weekend free-for-all – November 30 – December 1, 2019

This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. (This one is truly no work and no school.)

Book recommendation of the week: Know My Name, by Chanel Miller. This is by the woman who was assaulted by Brock Turner, and she’s an extraordinary writer and an extraordinary person.

* I make a commission if you use that Amazon link.

{ 999 comments… read them below }

  1. A.N. O'Nyme*

    Writing thread! How’s everyone’s writing going?
    I had a very busy week, so not much for me. For the NaNoWriMo crowd: did you succeed in your goal (whatever it was)?

    1. Earthwalker*

      My writing buddy and I are renaming. Some of her characters’ names sound too much alike. All of my characters’ names are just two letters different from one another and the place where they live sounds almost the same too. I don’t know how I did that. It’s the verbal version of octuplets in matching shirts.

    2. heckofabecca*

      I’m struggling to work on my research essay at the moment… I need to write at least four more pages by Tuesday. Crossing my fingers that I can actually do this!!!

      1. Lady Jay*

        Right there with you! I am IN THE THICK OF seminar papers for the end-of-term, and by golly, I’m a little sick of turning out 1500+ words/day. Solidarity!

    3. NaoNao*

      Perfect timing!

      I’ve dusted off a NaNo project from 4 years ago and am giving it a very light once over before using it as a test case to get used to the Kindle Direct Publishing process. I’ve engaged someone who will do a beta read, light proofread, and formatting package for a very reasonable price.

      However…I’m having my doubts about this beta reader/editor.

      The book is a light potboiler/beach read mystery. It’s not explicitly for only adults, but it’s not aimed at YA, teens, or middle schoolers. However her feedback included that she thought YA would really like it and it “reminded her of her wattpad days”. I was a little stung and taken aback by that.

      This is not amateur fan fic wish fulfillment or fantasy, or a tossed off first draft. It’s not portentous literary “craft” but it’s pretty sophisticated in tone and topic.

      I’m not sure how I should take this. She seems really professional and helpful and her other critiques were spot on, but this is kind of nagging me. I just want to get this edited/proofread and DONE at this point, not dither over draft after draft!

      Advice? Help? Commiseration?

      1. Fikly*

        I think maybe you have a misconception of fanfic, or have not read it widely? Just because something is fanfic, does not mean it is lower quality. Rather, it plays by slightly different rules, because there are certain things publishers will generally not allow (certain indulgences that increase word count, for example), and conventions, for example, first person POV is generally more common in published fiction than fanfic.

        There is excellent fanfic out there. There are mainstream published authors who also write fanfic. There are mainstream fiction house editors who write fanfic. There is terrible fanfic, yes. But there is also terrible published fiction. Getting something published does not guarantee quality, which is terribly frustrating when you know you have something better than what you see on the shelves.

        I’m unclear if the YA comment bothers you. YA can mean a wide variety of ages these days. For am example of a novel than straddles the adult/YA divide, you might look at Zoe’s Tale, by John Scalzi. It’s science fiction, the fourth book in a series that to that point had been straight adult. This book takes place from the POV of a teen, and he sort of wrote it as a slight swing in the YA direction (it’s the first thing at all YA he wrote), but contains cursing and death and adult subject matter for sure. Romantic relationships but not explicit sex that I recall, not that his books are heavy on sex to begin with. His publisher kind of ended up cross marketing it between genre markets.

        Incidentally, that book is also an excellent example of how to essentially retell events that you told in a previous novel from a different POV and have an original and engaging novel, which is something I have rarely seen pulled off.

        1. NaoNao*

          I get that FanFic can be super well written and wonderful to read; but I also get that the conventions are different, and that certain things which can be amateur or hacky in the wrong hands are tolerated, and that was more where I was headed with it. I’m bothered because neither a YA “new adult” novel (which to me indicates certain problems, concerns, life moments, etc) or fanfic is what I’m going for, no matter how terrific either of those are on their own merits.

          1. Fikly*

            Why are you assuming that by her saying it reminds her of fanfic, it reminds her of bad fanfic? There is plenty of fanfic that reads no different than published novels – just because fanfic can go by different conventions doesn’t mean it all does. Certain things can be amateur or hacky in the wrong hands, yes, but does that mean they have to be avoided even by the right hands, or if they aren’t, are they still bad to do?

            Ask your reader what she meant by her comment. It’s very likely she has a very different meaning/context than you do. Also, YA is broadening as a genre, and is less a genre and more an age range these days. I’d ask about that too – she may just mean, it’s not thematically appropriate.

      2. curly sue*

        There are genre conventions and pacing differences that are specific to fanfic, and I wonder if she’s picking up on some of that. Maybe there are some tropes that you’ve drawn on which are more commonly used in YA or fic genres? I agree that it’s not a comment on ‘quality’ — I write fanfic and am traditionally published, and the tone / assumptions on the audience’s responsibility and contribution are different for each.

        If you otherwise trust this editor’s responses, I’d circle back and ask her to elaborate on what she meant there. She’s probably picking up on something specific but hasn’t yet articulated it in a way that’s useful for you.

    4. MadStuart*

      I wrote 50,003 words of terrible fanfiction and gained like five new multi-chapter things by accident along the way, so… kind of? (I was trying to finish things so that I felt okay starting new things, so this is also kind of a failure.)

    5. OyHiOh*

      Sent a script to Ready to Perform, one of the contests run by the Southeast Theater Conference. Finalists are announced Dec 10th. We’ll see!

      Graphic novel is going astonishingly well. Taking every possible opportunity to turn comic book tropes on their heads. The superhero has a dark streak and isn’t terribly sympathetic, the villain fosters puppies and kittens, and tutors underprivilaged school children when she’s not concocting novel street drugs.

      And I’ve got three full length scripts in progress, and 6 one acts somewhere between almost done and a couple pages of scribbled ideas. Full plate this winter!!

    6. Liane*

      Got all the blog articles for the rest of the year written as intended! Plus a start on January articles. I will be surprised if more than one other writer has all theirs submitted by the 12/17 deadline.

    7. Vervain*

      I had good November intentions, but this year, I let depression and excuses get in the way of my noveling. Maybe I’ll try a smaller goal in December.

    8. Nickels, Dimes, and Quarters*

      I finished today, 50000+ words. It was my first time joining nanowrimo and my first novel. I’ll definitely do it again!

      NDQ

    9. Troutwaxer*

      No NaNoWriMo here, just continuing to plug away during November. I wrote my first human/Orc love scene yesterday, and I’ve covered about 9.5 days of the eleven days the novel will cover.

    10. Elizabeth West*

      I did not succeed at NaNoWriMo this year, due to 1) inadequate preparation because of 2) moving, then 3) getting sick after moving and 4) dealing with living out of boxes in someone else’s space. However, I’ve spent time making notes and shifted it to December. So this is my NaNo. Since I wasn’t doing it officially, it doesn’t much matter when I do it.

      This book is sort of a new thing for me, and I’m just gonna cut loose with it. Although my plot may be a little formula, I decided I’m going to just Fifty Shades it — that is, put my own daydreams to good use, although not necessarily in THAT way!

    11. rulesfor*

      I finished a NaNo and am pretty happy with it, for a first draft! The idea was relatively new (about six months) and I wasn’t sure it was ready to be a novel, but it was! 50k!

    12. Alexandra Lynch*

      I woke up from a dream and had a whole idea for a series of paranormal romances, complete with the background rules for how the magic “works”. So I wrote them down quickly and….well, I don’t know when I’ll get to writing it, but that’s that, at least.

      (It’s only been a week since my accident and I still have staples in my head, so I’m not doing any serious work just now. )

  2. esemes*

    Any life changing skincare products? Particularly ones to get a jump start on anti-aging? I’m open to all price points! :)

    1. Coffee please*

      I LOVE Skinceuticals CE Ferulic for skin discolorations, light wrinkles, etc. It’s pricey, but it does last a long time. Use it every morning, and easily goes under makeup. I’ve been using a neutrogena retinol product for my eyes that’s maybe too soon to tell. Interested to see what others say!

    2. Laburnum*

      I like Origins – they have overnight hydrating “masks” that are like a moisturizer. Again, pricey – but this time of year, lots of stuff on their site is on sale (and easy to try if you get a few of the small sample sizes in a gift pack).

    3. SansaStark*

      I really love my Paula’s Choice 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant. I have dry skin and this really helps to exfoliate the top layer of dead skin.

    4. Ron McDon*

      On Amazon UK there’s Viola Skin serums for around £15 a bottle.

      I started using the vitamin C one after reading good reviews online – it’s amazing! Within a weekend my skin was feeling softer and well nourished, and about a month later my skin was noticeably smoother, brighter, softer and my pores were less noticeable.

      I then added in the retinol serum at night which gives an extra boost of anti-ageing.

      Nothing I’ve used over the years has given such good results, they are truly amazing.

      I routinely get surprised comments when I tell people my age, where people think I’m 10 years younger, so they must be working!

      I definitely think we need to add a serum after the age of around 35-40, it made a big difference to my skin.

    5. Ludo*

      Ask your doctor for a retinoid prescription and look up YouTube videos (or google) how to start slowly using a prescription retinoid. You can start using it every night but you’ll most likely get very red and peel while your skin adjusts, if you start very slowly and build up to nightly use you can often skip the peel phase.

      If you don’t want to ask your doctor for that an over the counter option is called differin.

      And then if you don’t already, get in the habit of using an spf 30+ every single day.

      Retinoid+sunscreen are the building blocks of good skin.

        1. Digley Doowap*

          I should check the Web before I posted, but yes you can use vitamin a capsules by breaking them open and appling the oil directly to your skin overnight.

      1. CoffeeforLife*

        +1 on Retin-A and sunscreen. Sunscreen is the best preventative; use it daily. Prescription vitamin A is still the gold standard (and generally priced better than OTC night creams).

        I also like: micro needling, hyaluronic acid, and sea buckthorn oil

      2. i rarely comment and forgot my username*

        Sunscreen every day, multiple times a day! and check out The Ordinary line from deciem. plus prescription tretinoin. Curology is a great, super low dose of tretinoin- cheaper than seeing a dermatologist in person.

    6. ThatGirl*

      It’s less anti aging and more just brightening but Lumene Valo Glow Boost Essence is my new favorite thing. It’s not too pricy (you only use a drop or two at a time) and is at Target.

    7. Miranda Priestly's Assistant*

      Not sure which exact products to recommend without knowing your exact skin type, but in general, the key to anti-aging is keep your skin clean, fresh, and hydrated. USE SPF AND SUN PROTECTION to prevent damage. This is is the first thing I would recommend. I use a SPF 50 which I apply every 2-3 hours, even on cloudy days. Also, hats, long sleeves, and sunglasses.

      Since, getting into my late 20’s, I’ve switched to using oil cleansers instead of foam cleansers to retain moisture as much as possible. I also regularly exfoliate my skin. (I currently am using a scrub, but I want to switch to a chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid once I’m done with it.) And moisturize like crazy! You want to choose your serum and/or moisturizers carefully because these products sit on your skin the longest. I use a multivitamin serum (Vitamins A, C, and E) and a hydrating moisturizer with hyaluronic acid (which retains moisture in your skin.) I also use products without Fragrance because I have sensitive skin.

    8. CastIrony*

      I’m focused more on my dry hands, but I like Derma E creams, and there are anti-aging creams. They range around $10-20 USD, if not a few dollars more.

    9. Disco Janet*

      I have sensitive combination skin, and First Aid Beauty’s ultra repair cream is the most amazing moisturizer for me – total game changer!

    10. Budgie Buddy*

      Anything made from snails. Somehow those not only moisturize but also help your skin suck in anything else you’re using

    11. Vervain*

      Pixi by Petra. I usually get their products at Target and they’re priced like highbrow drugstore, but the glow tonic line has been a miracle for my skin.

    12. Don’t Think About a Cat*

      I have very, very sensitive skin and am of an, ahem, sensitive age, and I adore Amore Pacific. Not cheap, but good. Hand cream also highly recommended.

    13. Atheist Nun*

      I love Tata Harper’s rejuvenating serum and purifying cleanser. Both smell wonderful and work well on my normal-to-dry middle aged skin.

    14. Teacher Lady*

      I adore Glossier’s The Solution. My night moisturizer is HoneySkin, and I just use the Target generic of Neutrogena w/SPF during the day.

    15. Kimberlee, No Longer Esq.*

      So, I’ve never used La Mer, but I figured I’d drop in a bit of wisdom I read somewhere once about it, from I believe a hair stylist, or someone who worked at a spa? Someone being interviewed because they had some level of knowledge/authority in the subject. :)

      She said, basically, that she’d been curious about whether or not La Mer cream was really worth the price tag, so she started asking her customers if they used it. Of the ones that did, a lot of them seemed to indicate “meh” – it worked well enough, but not nearly well enough to justify the pricepoint. BUT, when this person specifically asked people who had noticeably great, beautiful skin, *almost all* of them used La Mer. Coincidence? Random or X-factor correlation? Perhaps, I just always thought it was an interesting set of data points.

    16. Mommy. MD*

      This sounds ridiculous but old school Ponds. I get a lot of compliments on my skin (even from a plastic surgeon) and have very few wrinkles. I do a Retin A micro peel every six months using it for 10 days. It’s a hassle because the skin flakes off during this time but it is the only thing that restores collagen. Last time I used OTC Differin bc I was out of the other. Both are retinoids. Always use sunscreen if outside a lot. Slather with Ponds every day. And it’s cheap. Origins is also good but pricey. Aldo gently use the MIA with a soft brush to exfoliate about every two weeks. I wash my face with the pink J&J baby bath. It’s super gentle and leaves my skin soft. Has to be the pink one.

    17. MissDisplaced*

      I’ve loved Clinique Turnaround Cream and have been using it for years. However, I’ll try all sorts of things I find at Marshalls, and something lighter I found there that like for summertime is Canaan Silk Serum.

      To be honest, I often wonder if we’re all just buying the packaging, but I guess you’ll find what works for you. I still look pretty young for my age in spite of ocean, SoCal Sun and tanning so I guess I must’ve done something right along the way.

    18. lobsterp0t*

      Stratia products! Specifically Liquid Gold and the AHA. It’s a really gentle and subtle exfoliant.

  3. A.N. O'Nyme*

    Gaming thread! What’s everyone been playing this week?
    I’ve been having a lot of fun with the new Stardew Valley update! I love that game so much.
    (For those interested, the extremely long changelog is available on the official website – just google “Stardew Valley 1.4 changelog” or something)

    1. Seeking Second Childhood*

      Guild Wars 2, I got tired of being so carsick…before giving it up I tried generating a human character and it works. It was something about how the Charr character moves. So now I can keep up with the family, hurrah!

      1. A Former Norn*

        I played Guild Wars 2 until I gave birth to my first kid! It was a lot of fun and I miss it. I just wanted to comment that I loved the look of Charr characters, but I also found that they were extremely awkward to use. I thought it was just me! I loved my Norn, but she moved so slow that it felt off. Humans are the best way to go!

        Congrats on figuring out a way to play.

    2. Laika*

      Planet Zoo! Unfortunately the new patch did a bit of game-breaking but I’m still enjoying playing around in Sandbox and building lots of weird stuff.

      1. DoomCarrot*

        I’m still finishing up “The Witness” – I started playing it for work reasons so I’ll not go into that here, but continued because it’s got just the right kind of puzzles for the way my brain works.

        If you’ve ever played Myst, it’s superficially the same – running around an island solving puzzles – but much, much better, because there’s a logical progression. You get a simple puzzle, learn basic rules from that, then progress to more difficult ones by abstracting the rules you learned.

        And the graphics are amazing.

    3. Raia*

      Pokemon Sword! I understand why some people are having issues with the principles of the game. From a gameplay perspective, I think the game is awesome! and improves on a lot of shortfalls and tedious grinds of the previous games. I’ve played 40 hrs so far and almost all the main games besides silver, black 2, and ultra sun.

    4. Smol Book Wizard*

      I’m a creature of habit. I’m still playing Islanders. :) It’s a gorgeous city-building game with randomly generated islands and a points system that’s motivating but not nervewracking for me… very relaxing, very pretty, very good at keeping one busy.

      I was also given Equilinox as a gift – an ecosystem-building game – and am still figuring it out; I tend to get hung up on the “do this thing and then this one and then this other” chains of causation required to evolve the species. I imagine it will get more fun with practice though.

      Unfortunately, I have temporarily given up on Undertale. I get so disappointed when I can’t get past Undyne, and frankly, I’m not getting much better at it. Regrettable, because I really am interested in the storyline.

    5. Nynaeve*

      I just started playing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic last night after I got stuck on the level of Portal I’m on. (I know what I need to do, but I’m not fast/dexterous enough to complete all the steps in the time available.)

    6. Amethystmoon*

      My Wednesday night game was cancelled but I’m playing Fall of Delta Green tonight. My character is a psychologist. She should have her work cut out for her.

    7. Tara R.*

      I can’t wait for the Stardew Valley update to come out on Switch. I’m tempted to start a playthrough on PC so I can check out the new features, but I’m trying to be patient!

  4. Loopy*

    Thanks to everyone who commented last weekend on my travel anxiety. I disappeared because lo and behold, THE THING happened. It seems I practically willed something going wrong into existence with my worrying. We went to book train tickets from London to Paris and there were no tickets… on any train. For five solid days. On any website. When I finally called the station in London, the very nice man told me there were no trains running those days because of the strike in France.

    I cringe to think of what clueless Americans we are (I can barely keep up with our local US news these days). We had *no* idea about the planned Dec 5 strike in France. So we scrambled to make alternate plans a week out because our hotel was booked and non refundable as was our flight home from Paris. Oof. We figured plane tickets may skyrocket and it was already a week out so we bought some and are hoping to be able to see as much of the city as possible despite what looks to be a very significant movement going on.

    And then today I started feeling sick. So. Any advice for quick cold remedies or how to power through a cold abroad is advised! Right now I’ve got vitamins, tea, lots of water, and rest ahead. I also grabbed some Echinacea blend that also has a bit of Elderberry in it on a whim. I just saw it says take one capsule SIX times daily?! Does anyone know more about this stuff? That’s awfully frequent.

    1. Stephanie*

      Try zinc, too. It always seems to help me ward off a cold if I start taking it as soon as I notice the early symptoms.
      good luck!

      1. Loopy*

        I read mixed things about zinc but passed it by initially. I may have to return to CVS then! Thanks for the recommendations!

    2. Seeking Second Childhood*

      Wear a face mask to reduce how many other people are exposed.
      Maybe change plans a little — switch to pamper-yourself options instead of go-go tourism. Half a day at one museum, and sit people watching at the museum cafe. Take a leisurely midday meal, find a spa for a massage or a hot tub for soaking, splurge on a boat/bus tour so you can sit & watch the city go by.
      In “The Dutchess of Bloomsbury Street”, Helene Hanff talks about finally getting to London, only to come down with a cold. She told someone she was fighting a cold, and the woman said “oh, Helene, just HAVE the cold!”
      So she pampered herself with English tea and sweet treats and big fluffy pillows… and it was a marvelous thing to read about.

      1. Loopy*

        This does sound rather lovely! I will have to see how much of a cold it turns out to be, right now I caught just the first signs so I’m hoping to ward it off by Monday!

        1. 00ff00Claire*

          If your symptoms just started, can you tolerate Nyquil? I know it’s not the best stuff, but for me it helps me sleep very well. If I take it and go to bed early (allowing at least nine hours, preferably more, for the night’s sleep), I find that it helps fight off the cold. I think it probably has more to do with getting a lot of really solid sleep than anything else in the Nyquil. So if you have something else that will knock you out, you could try that instead.

          1. Loopy*

            I have a love/hate relationship with Nyquil. It works TOO well and I’m useless for closer to 10 hours and fuzzy for at least 12! It’s not a bad suggestion though! I may see how tonight goes and if sleep doesn’t go well, I’ll pull it out for tomorrow for sure!

            1. 00ff00Claire*

              I’m actually the same with Nyquil. I take it very rarely, as fortunately I’m in a better position to deal with colds without it right now. However, when I do take it, I take only a half dose, three quarters max. And I’m still out / out of it for a solid 9-10 hours! Hoping you are better soon and you enjoy your trip despite the cold and the strike. We had to adjust plans for our trip in France due to a strike, but not as much as it seems you are. Are you flying into Charles de Gaulle? We flew into there and a few things that could be helpful if you can pull it off: have some euros already so you don’t have to go get them in the airport (lines were long) and if you have to go through customs there be prepared for a bit of a wait. Maybe you won’t have to because you’ll already be in the EU coming from London – hopefully not for your sake! We wound up taking longer in the process of taxiing to the terminal (the airport’s huge!), going through customs, getting into the city, and getting to our hotel. It might help to mentally prepare for it to take longer than you expect.

              Also, if you need to buy any medicine while you are there, try get it in London before you go to Paris. It’s certainly easier to figure out what is what in English, and in France some things we are used to are not over the counter/off the shelf. We tried to buy Tylenol in Avignon and it was a total bust, for reasons we still don’t quite understand!

              One more thing: I don’t know if I’ve seen you mention whether you will have phone service / data while you are there. If you don’t, Google Maps has a feature where you can download maps to your phone and save them to look at offline. You can download a whole city or just a portion of it. The downloaded map doesn’t have as much detail as the online version, but it does have landmarks, tube stations, and some restaurants. We found that feature very helpful while we were there! (Maybe I mentioned this already when I commented on one of your previous posts… if so, sorry!)

              1. Loopy*

                This is all great and super helpful! We will have Euros already thankfully but i booked a ride share van to get to our hotel due to the strike and the fine print says it’ll only wait an hour so I am thinking I should try and adjust since it may take us longer to get out to the curb it seems!

      2. Jaid*

        +1 for a face-mask. I also take specific meds for each symptom as it comes up as opposed to catch all drug, like Nyquil. BTW, caffeine isn’t your friend, so decaf and herbal tea would be best if trying to stay hydrated.

        I hope you feel better soon!

      3. Ann Nonymous*

        Definitely agreeing with the “pamper yourself and take things slow” advice.

        Only please don’t go to some public hot tub and make everyone else sick!

        1. Loopy*

          I am doing everything possible not to be *that person* on the plane. D: I have fingers crossed because so far it’s super mild and I’m doing everything to keep it that way or warding it off entirely! Napping, hydrating, supplements, etc!

    3. Not So NewReader*

      I have not used the exact Echinacea you are talking about but I have used a different blend. The idea is to keep a continuous flow to keep beating back the cold. For my own sanity, I would do two at each meal. Six is about right when a person is in the heavy part of their symptoms. (Not a doc, just worked with stuff for decades now, to help myself.)

      I have not used it in a while because what I was calling a cold turned out to be allergy or mild food poisoning and the Echinacea did not work on those things. It did work great on my real colds though.

      1. Loopy*

        Good to know! I have taken about 4 today I think. I’m definitely not in the heavy part of symptoms but will definitely try and take at least four tomorrow too!

    4. Thankful for AAM*

      Elderberry is one of the few things that has been shown to reduce a cold. Also zinc helps. I find that taking them frequently works best but 9 times a day seems like a lot!

    5. londonedit*

      Oof. I’m sorry. There’s basically always a strike in France. But it doesn’t take all that much longer to fly from London to Paris!

      Hope you can head off the cold – I’d definitely be on the vitamin C and echinacea! And blackcurrant – can you get Sambucol? It’s really good.

      1. Square Root Of Minus One*

        No, honestly, there isn’t. They are pretty frequent on very small scales (mostly in reaction to security issues), but this scale will be a first for many of us.

      2. Loopy*

        I am taking all of those things and feeling optimistic this morning! Feeling pretty normal but going to keep the routine to be safe!

        We aren’t really fully educated on the politics surrounding the strike (though we of course have done our best to read up on it) and the history of strikes in France so I’m trying to simply approach it as how do I manage to get where I need to go and not be an insensitive foreigner whining about my vacation.

    6. Sara(h)*

      The key with zinc is to get zinc LOZENGES and let them dissolve in your mouth. There is scientific evidence backing this but it has to be at the very onset of symptoms — the sooner the better. And if you have a sensitive stomach, zinc can upset your stomach. Make sure not to use on an empty stomach regardless. And some zinc lozenges don’t have enough zinc — each lozenge should have btwn 13 and 25 mg to be effective. I use the Whole Foods store brand. I have hardly gotten a cold at all since discovering the magic of zinc lozenges 20 years ago.

      1. Loopy*

        This is great info, I was feeling way too overwhelmed when I initially saw all the zinc based cold products at the pharmacy! This helps immensely!

    7. Ginger Sheep*

      Hi Loopy!
      Some updates from France – the strike is forecast as being major, ie no public transport at all dec 5 and 6, and major disturbances the following days. My daughter’s school is closing on the 5th because of the strike, and the university I work for has cancelled classes that day as well. The good news is, lots of places in Paris are walkable from each other if you are in reasonable health ; the bad news is the weather is currently dismal – rainy and cold and wet – and has been for most of the past month.

      Secondly- we’ve been following each other’s Instagram baking accounts (though I haven’t been on Instagram since the summer due to starting a new job in September), and I have Thursday and Friday unexpectedly off from work. Would you like to come over at my place to learn cookie-decorating, French-style? I would enjoy meeting you and having someone to share my hobby with! Of course the issue is actually coming over – I live in the Northern suburbs, and while the train ride from Paris is short and cheap, because of the strike you would have to take a taxi/Uber, which are way more expensive and take longer (maybe 40€/45 minutes, depending on traffic and where in Paris you are coming from). If you think this could be fun, contact me by DM on my Instagram and we’ll see if we can plan it!

      1. Loopy*

        Hello!

        Thanks so much for your help clarifying the scale of the strike, it’s very helpful. We are totally able to do a good amount of walking but I do hope the rain isn’t to terrible or we’ll get quite soggy. Cold we can handle though!

        While I would LOVE to stop by and cookie decorate (and connect with a fellow baker and AAM-er!) and so appreciate the offer, we are actually coming over form London too late to make it there sadly. Our plans shifted quite a bit since have to fly in instead of taking the train. But I am so touched by the invitation and sorry we wont be able to make it there!

      1. Loopy*

        Thanks! I am doing quite a bit to mitigate the cold and it seems to be working well so far- catching it early and acting immediately seems to be paying off. As for the transportation issues, I’m hoping we can work around it and enjoy our first time in France without too much hassle since we’ve been planning ahead for it.

    8. General von Klinkerhoffen*

      Salt gargle protects your throat – as often as you can gear.

      Alternatively, and particularly when you’re away, gargle with a good antibacterial mouthwash (in the UK look for Listerine) because it instantly makes you feel better, but also protects your throat.

      Hope it all goes well!

    9. Mme Pince*

      I don’t know if this is a universal experience or a me thing, but when I’m congested and have to fly, my ears hurt a lot when the pressure changes on planes. I would highly recommend taking a decongestant those days and possibly investing in some of those special ear plugs that are meant to equalize the pressure more slowly.

  5. No Tribble At All*

    Good morning everyone! I’m looking for recommendations for vegetarian dishes for Christmas that aren’t based around squash. We’re hosting Christmas this year, and both my sister and my husband’s sister are vegetarian. So we’ll have 2 out of 9 people vegetarian. I’m going to make squash soup as an appetizer because I have a 25lb squash hanging around at home. So I don’t want the vegetarian main dish to ALSO be squash. (Then again, maybe they’ll want that! I should ask.)

    So, hit me with your best vegetarian mains with no winter squash that are moderately fancy!

    1. PB*

      I have modified a beef stew recipe (link to follow) to be a vegetarian stew. Swap out the beef with seitan or other vegetarian protein and skip the browning step. Omit the anchovies, and use vegetable broth instead of beef. This is a good recipe, with lots of veggies and red wine slow-cooked for hours, and really feels celebratory. I’ve had it for New Years the last two years. I tend to serve with mashed potatoes and a winter cocktail.

      1. Lena Clare*

        Oh that sounds good! My go-to new year’s dish is Nigella’s yellow split-pea soup. I make it with veg stock and sometimes have veggie ‘hot dogs’ in it. It’s gorgeous.

      2. fhqwhgads*

        Just throwing this out there, but as a vegetarian, if there’s already a soup course, I wouldn’t want my main to be stew. I know they’re not exactly the same, but it’s close enough that it’d bug. I think it really introduces the same sort of problem “both are squash” would.

        1. Marzipan*

          Mmm, I know what you mean.

          If it’s a situation where everyone else is having basically a traditional roast dinner with various side dishes, then personally I’d probably internally be a bit sad if my main course wasn’t something that sensibly let me eat those side dishes, too.

        2. PB*

          To be clear, when I make this, it’s the only main and there’s no soup course. I make food that everyone can eat.

    2. fort hiss*

      You can make a great vegetarian stuffing! I made one where I replaced sausage with small chunks of Japanese eggplant that I simmered in soy sauce until they got meaty and soft. People went wild for it at a party.

      Try to think of dishes where meat is incidental or absent anyway and that can help. Macaroni and cheese! Cheese and breadcrumb stuffed roasted tomatoes. French onion soup. Sautéed escarole with white beans and garlic. Aloo Gobi is really good too! Priya on Bon Appétit’s YouTube channel does a ton of simple vegetarian Indian food.

    3. GoryDetails*

      You’re already making a soup so this may not work for you, but I really loved a vegan recipe from Budget Bytes: the Creamy Vegetable Wild Rice Soup. It’s marvelously savory and tasty, and if you simmer it a bit longer (or use less liquid in the first place, or make it ahead of time and reheat it after a night in the fridge) it gets closer in texture to a risotto. And nary a squash in sight!

      1. Koala dreams*

        White bean fake risotto! Fry canned beans and onion / mushrooms, add liquid (wine or veg stock or both), cook 5-10 minutes.

      1. No Tribble At All*

        This looks delicious!! I like that I can make the filling ahead of time and that it’s big and dramatic. This may be the winner! Thanks all for the suggestions :)

        1. Taking The Long Way Round*

          Woohoo! I love it because it tastes great of course, but also because you can slice it and serve it with all the other trimmings that turkey eaters have (if they’re veggie too). Also it is FAB cold sliced in a sandwich, carb overload!

      2. They Don’t Make Sunday*

        Thank you for this! When you make it vegan, do you make the puff pastry from scratch or is there a storebought brand you like?

      3. Brrrrr*

        I made this for Christmas last year, it was great! Pretty sure the suggestion came from AAM, maybe from you. It’s quite easy, with bought puff pastry of course. I had a couple leftover slices in the freezer that I just discovered a couple weeks ago. It was a pleasant surprise as I had forgotten about them. They reheated nicely in the oven.

    4. Taking The Long Way Round*

      I’ve just posted a link for Rose Elliott’s Walnut Pate en Croute, which is in moderation, but I wanted to say that I am allergic to cashews and I have substituted hazelnuts and almonds instead in the recipe and it is still absolutely delicious!

    5. Michelle*

      For Thanksgiving, I made a harvest rice dish that used brown and wild rice, dried cranberries, mushrooms, and toasted almonds. The recipe that I used also suggested adding peas for a bright green colour, which would go great with the bright red cranberries. You could do something similar and use vegetable broth to cook the rice in.

      Also, Smitten Kitchen has a recipe for Mushroom Bourguignon that would be great for Christmas. It is described as ” bourguignon without the heft of beef.”

    6. Grandma Mazur*

      We make the Hairy Bikers nut roast with wild mushroom gravy (I think you can find it on the Red website – it’ll certainly appear if you google it). Our other favourite is Glamorgan Sausages (cheese and leeks) – any crumbly mild cheese will work if you can’t find Caerphilly. We use Felicity Cloake’s recipe from the Guardian.

    7. heckofabecca*

      Not sure if you can still get a hold of a sugar pumpkin by then, but Pumpkin Stuffed With Everything Good (that’s the name of the recipe) was a HUGE hit at my dairy Thanksgiving. Not quite a squash XD Other possibilities:

      – Indian food is easily made vegetarian if it’s not already! Shahi Paneer, curries, etc.
      – If they like spicy, veg chili
      – quiche (with or without a butternut squash crust XD)
      – lasagna
      – vegetarian pot pie (bonus points if you make it without the crust and instead make buttermilk biscuits to dunk in, SO good)

    8. Laburnum*

      Mushroom bread pudding. There are a few recipes out there — I use one that calls for different types of mushrooms and you roast them on a sheet pan before putting them in, which intensifies the flavor. I also use a dash of truffle salt. This is nice and hearty and goes well with a green salad on the side.

      1. Dr Useless*

        We’ve done mushroom wellingtons for years now for our vegan/vegetarian option. I used to do one with nuts, but since my mother developed a nut allergy we’ve switched over to a recipe with chestnuts.

        I can’t seem to find the recipe right now, but it involved chestnuts, breadcrumbs, mushrooms and puff pastry. I usually double the amount of mushrooms in any recipe because that makes it more moist.

        They’re very tasty with cranberry sauce or vegan gravy (note: a lot of gravy mixes are accidentally vegan, funnily enough, provided you don’t add meat juices of course).

      2. Taking The Long Way Round*

        I’ve posted a link for an excellent one! It’ll be in moderation :)
        (I’m determined to convert people to it!)

    9. Aly_b*

      I’m vegetarian and bring a veggie dish to Christmas every year. So far the most popular have been spanakopita (easier than you’d think), and a pasta with olive oil, lemon juice, feta, green onion, canned artichoke, and cherry tomato. The pasta is easy and tasty and a little taste of spring, and doesn’t feel like it’s lacking for meat. You want to actually taste a bit of the lemon.

    10. Koala dreams*

      Bruxelles sprout stew with white beans, saffron and vegetables. Carrot balls or carrot burgers. Kale pie. Baked rutabaga with mustard sauce.

    11. Ginny Weasley*

      I’d definitely go with something like a vegetarian lasagna (personally I’d like one with a white sauce and mushrooms and spinach or something a little different than marinara sauce) and I’d definitely try and make sure that most if not all of the sides are vegetarian where reasonable, or save some for them before adding the meat part. I’m not a vegetarian anymore but I used to be and nothing would drive me crazier at a family dinner where all of the delicious vegetable sides I would have loved to have (Brussels sprouts I’m looking at you) had some kind of meat mixed in. Vegetarian stuffing isn’t a big change and it’s pretty darn easy to set aside some of the Brussels sprouts before adding the bacon, for example.

      Also I just made this mistake yesterday at a pot luck – I specifically made a vegetarian black bean and quinoa dish for a vegetarian friend but she didn’t tell me – and I didn’t think to ask – beforehand that she doesn’t eat cheese if she doesn’t see the label to be 100% sure it’s made with vegetarian rennet. So she couldn’t eat the dish I made for her because it had cheese on top. So I’d check with your vegetarian guests before using cheese to see if that’s an issue for them or stick to cheese that you can prove uses vegetarian rennet.

      1. WoodswomanWrites*

        Seconding the veggie lasagna. A favorite of mine when people made it for me is spinach and ricotta.

    12. Kimmybear*

      At our Thanksgiving with peanut allergies, celiac, diabetics and vegetarians, I had an awesome stuffed mushroom that I think would be great with portabellas rather than the baby bellas that were used. I’l see if I can get the recipe.

    13. Jackalope*

      I’m a big fan of pasta dishes since they are easy to make vegetarian and most people recognize them as a main dish. Someone else mentioned veggie lasagna and that is wonderful; I also like what I call “everything pasta”, which is a regular Mac and cheese but adding whatever veggies I have on hand into the mix. Spaghetti with mushrooms and garlic and onions is great too. I have often made vegetarian chili; just take out the meat and add in any veggies that you want (I like corn and zucchini a lot, but your tastes may vary). If that’s too close to soup and therefore the “everything is squash” issue then you could skip it, or put the chili over pasta, or just make it for another meal if everyone is around for awhile. Better Homes & Gardens has a great tortilla bean casserole that basically has you cook canned tomatoes, beans, and peppers for a bit, then make a layered casserole with the bean mix, corn tortillas, and cheese. When you bake it the corn tortillas become soft and everything kind of melts together.

    14. Bluebell*

      I don’t have the exact recipe anymore but used to make a cheddar puff pastry ring (gougere) and stuff it with sautéed onion, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, and herbs, topped with shredded cheddar cheese. Pretty to look at and delicious. I’ve also done some nice white bean and mushroom cassoulet.

    15. CastIrony*

      Stuffed bell peppers (which has mainly rice and cheese), and if you can find some, chickenless chicken is a thing.

      1. OyHiOh*

        Gonna recommend the potato curry for you too :) Look for a recipe made in the Vedic tradition because they don’t use onions and garlic and will have a seasoning called asafoetida powder instead, it’s a dry ground root that has a flavor reminicent of aliums when heated). I like adding peas and carrots to mine, and have a couple standards cooked in tomato gravy but you know what ingredients you can safely eat so substitute at will. It’s substantial and filling and feels like a treat with any starches you’re able to partake of.

      2. AGD*

        Tteokbokki or mochi with e.g. teriyaki sauce. Way more interesting than plain old brown-rice pasta.

        Also, see if you can tolerate Beyond Meat burgers – no alliums, and delicious.

    16. Fellow Traveler*

      For Thanksgiving, I made smitten kitchen’s cabbage and mushroom galette and it was really tasty. I also (on the advice from someone here) just asked my vegetarian brother what he wanted, and he said he wanted a “Field Roast”- which is a vegetarian roast that I was able to find at Whole Foods. I roasted it with potatoes, carrots and squash, and it went over pretty well.

    17. Seeking Second Childhood*

      We’ve been experimenting with TVP — texturized vegetable protein. It comes in a bag dry, looking unappealingly likemail kitty kibble. Softened it becomes a decent analog to ground meat for things like lasagna & chili. Eggplant lasagna with this in the marinara is very good.

    18. Grace*

      Another vote for mushroom wellingtons!

      You can make individual ones in advance – the recipe I use has kale, walnuts, gorganzola, and one portobello mushroom in each wellington – and then freeze them, and cook from frozen on the day. They last very well in the freezer, so you can make a few and then have them months later. It works well for our family because the meat-eaters have a beef wellington, but it’s a fun little classy dish anyway.

      I have a single mushroom wellington and then load up on the veggie sides, but we do Christmas buffet-style. It would also work well as a meal brought to the table and served as-is.

    19. londonedit*

      For the last 25 years my festive vegetarian Christmas main course has been pine nut and pepper roast. You fry up a punnet of mushrooms (250g?) with a red, yellow and orange (bell) pepper, just to soften them a little, then add garlic, and then add them to a bowl with a handful of Parmesan, one egg, a couple of tablespoons of tomato purée and a big handful of chopped parsley, and seasoning. Then add 50% in volume of wholemeal breadcrumbs, mix it all together (it should be quite a sticky mixture) and then put into a lined loaf tin and bake at 180 (I think that’s 350F) for about 45 minutes. You can then turn it out onto a baking tray and put it back into the oven to crisp up on the other side too. It freezes really well and is really nice hot or cold with redcurrant jelly.

    20. OyHiOh*

      I would do a luxurious potato curry – look for a punjabi or northern india recipe that’s wet (has a good gravy built in, rather than being dry/no gravy). For a main course, I’d add some carrots and peas to the basic recipe and make sure you have bread or rice on the table to go with. Curry sounds daunting and complicated but potato curries in particular are fairly easy to assemble and pretty forgiving of first time experiments. You can make it with no heat at all – skip chili powder and use bell peppers rather than green chilies – or as much heat as your vegetarian eaters enjoy.

      As a bonus, a potato curry reheats well and much like a good stew, tastes better after the flavors have time to settle together. Just don’t add cilantro or any other fresh herbs until the dish is ready to take to the table.

    21. 12-year Vegetarian*

      Make sure you have something with high protein. Pasta is vegetarian but it’s often not as satisfying for people if it is low in protein. There are lots of vegan or vegetarian baked bean recipes out there which are really good. Lentils are also really versatile: you can make a stew with carrots, celery, and so forth; you can make a cold salad with potatoes, onions, oil, and lemon; you can wine-glaze them with tomato sauce. For the final option, there is a really good recipe by Deborah Madison that you can find online.

    22. Llellayena*

      My family’s traditional Christmas meal is homemade manicotti (sort of like lasagna in tubes, for those non-Italian folk out there). But the shells are more like crepes than the pasta ones you can get in the store so it’s not a recipe I’d serve on the first try. Stuffed shells would work though. Ricotta and mushroom, ricotta and zucchini, lots of different filling options.

    23. A few things are nice*

      Spanish chickpeas and rice from Budget Bytes! Delicious, and has artichoke so automatically qualifies as “fancy” in my book.

    24. epi*

      If you don’t need the dish to be vegan, I highly recommend Vegetarian Times’ spinach pie recipe. My husband and I make it for holidays with only one alteration: we use all leeks instead of a combination of onions and green onions. It’s a fantastic dish, hearty like a vegetarian lasagna but less expected. (Not that lasagna isn’t great too!) It feels like an extra treat to have it at home because a lot of people don’t want to work with phyllo dough.

      However, phyllo dough is fiddly but not really very difficult. And it’s forgiving in this dish because it is layered. Every time we work with it, it takes us half as long as the time before– which is good because both of our families now insist we bring it to all gatherings. Homemade spinach pie is that good. We’ve made it up to five days ahead, refrigerated it, then reheated it in the oven to crisp the crust back up. So you can try it out before chaos really descends.

      If your guests are OK with it, you could also just load up on the meatless sides. Many vegetarians prefer that on Thanksgiving– I always used to when I didn’t eat meat. IMO it can work for Christmas too.

    25. The Rat-Catcher*

      If there were extenuating circumstances, those should have been kindly detailed (we will be late for the Llama Parade if we stop), otherwise it was not a big deal to stop. If something is minor, it shouldn’t be a big deal for them to handle it respectfully.

      1. The Rat-Catcher*

        Ugh, this was supposed to be on the next thread, sorry! I don’t have any killer veggie main dish ideas.

  6. It’s not about the coffee*

    I feel stupid as hell. After 7 continuous days of my spouse being grumpy/annoyed/frustrated with me, I had an outburst. In front of MIL. Over the stupidest thing—coffee. But… it’s not really about the coffee right?

    We were driving home and I asked if we can stop for coffee and he got so exasperated. And said “You just had lunch with your friend, she didn’t get you coffee???”

    (1. No there was no time for coffee, and 2. No one GETS me anything I buy it myself). They then insisted that I can go and get it myself later on. I said no.

    We went home and I had a face on because my MIL said if I want coffee at home, I said no it’s fine. My husband said something and I lost it at him and started crying. That he’s always upset and angry with me. He always has a problem with me. And then I went to my room and cried for 2 hours.

    Then my MIL came in and said I need to respect him, she also called him out on how he is behaving etc but I need to be more respectful.

    It’s not about the coffee… I feel this is the only place that would understand that. I could have easily gone myself later on and gotten it. I didn’t have to ask but 7 continuous days of him ignoring me or being extremely unpleasant wore me out.

    No one in my life really gets it, how it feels to be living with someone who mostly acts like they can’t stand you. Friends and family say I need to toughen up, all men are like this, he’s one of the good ones etc. when we’re home alone he’s fine, it’s just whenever we visit his family he’s on edge. It’s been like this for years.

    I can’t wait to be back home, to my regular life.

    1. MommaCat*

      Maybe next time, he can just visit his family alone? Y’all seem to have a bad dynamic happening when visiting with them. And your MIL seemed out of line, but she might be part of the reason your husband is on edge. Much sympathy, and I hope it gets better soon.

      1. It’s not about the coffee*

        I think we will have to. It sucks because I do find things to enjoy while here. We used to stay with my brother in law and his family and it was a lot more enjoyable for us all. But now that MIL has moved back, my husband wants to stay with her since she’s alone.

        And the other problem is me— as angry and hurt as I am now, I will forget it quickly and only remember the good things. When my anger dissipates, I fall in to the “well that’s not so bad, he’s on edge so I do what I can to not ruffle him.” I forget the bad feelings quickly, some have said it’s a good thing but I don’t think it is n

        1. fposte*

          In the description, you both sound pretty reactive. That could be a normal thing when you’re away from home and under the stress of relatives, but if it’s not, have you been in couples counseling? If you don’t want couples counseling and you don’t think you can accept your husband’s responses, what do you want to do? Are you considering divorce?

          It may also be worth thinking about what an acceptable balance does look like to you. If you read John Gottman (which I highly recommend) there’s generally an optimal ratio of positive to negative interactions, but there’s no optimal erasure of negative interactions. A lot of couples bicker when visiting the in-laws :-). If it’s part of a general pattern of bickering that tears them down, that means a different thing than if they’re generally happy and supportive and are just snappish from stress for a week. Forgetting it in the latter case is a reasonable thing to do; in the former not so much.

        2. WellRed*

          Your second paragraph is frightening. This is what abused women tell themselves. The excuses (he’s on edge). The walking on eggshells (must not ruffle). The rose colored glasses of when he’s nice. Not understanding all the MIL focus. This is very much a spouse problem.

          1. It’s not about the coffee*

            My spouse is otherwise perfectly fine when we’re not visiting his mother. I still don’t know what it is, she’s nice and doesn’t say much but…he’s like that. There’s history that the other brothers were jerks to their wives and she was somehow indirectly involved.

            If I was a different kind of person, I’d spend allllll my time with her being fake nice so that she doesn’t have time/energy/opportunity to “fill my husbands ears”. (That’s real advice I’ve been given in the past)… but that’s not me.

            The forgetful thing… I noticed this happens with me pretty much in every aspect of my life. Friends, work, family, my weight. I see my therapist the day after I get back. Will definitely talk to him then.

            1. valentine*

              I think this:
              I forget the bad feelings quickly

              is what has you saying this:
              My spouse is otherwise perfectly fine when we’re not visiting his mother.

              Because that’s not possible. Someone who treats you properly and well doesn’t just turn that off like their mom is static interference. If anything, they would slide back into their “usual” behavior at moments you find yourselves alone together and forget you’re at her house (unless she is ever-present and you honestly have zero alone time).

              Letting it go day after day seems off, as does crying for two hours. That’s a lot of buildup. If he were really kind the rest of the time, why wouldn’t you discuss it on the way home (before you forget!) or before the next trip? You’re planning a trip and you either honestly don’t remember what’s coming (silence and contempt) or you do, but don’t say anything. You’re “forgetting” so that he doesn’t say you made him mad. Why? What’s so bad about him getting mad? It was fine with him that you were so upset, you cried for two hours, but him being mad is a cardinal sin. Why?

              The people giving you sexist advice and “Men are on Mars” or whatever it is are doing you a great disservice. They are living like you’re crabs in a bucket.

              Is this the life you want (not “can tolerate” or “(allegedly) better than most”) and, if not, how are you going to build a path to where you want to be?

        3. tangerineRose*

          Can you let him stay with his mom, and you stay somewhere else? Or maybe take a vacation to somewhere else you want to go?

          “he’s always upset and angry with me.” It’s not OK for him to treat you like that.

        4. AcademiaNut*

          A suggestion for the forgetting part – keep a journal. Write down how you feel and why, in the moment, so that you have a record and can deal with it later.

          And if it’s really just the visits to his family that cause problems, let him go alone! Send him off for a week, and enjoy being nice to yourself. Have your favourite foods, spend some time with friends, do things just the way you want to. Read a good book, binge watch a favourite series, spread out a craft project. Book an extra therapy session! And maybe if he doesn’t have you to absorb his bad mood he might actually think about his relationship with his mother.

          I second other commenters in saying that not all men are like this. Everyone has bad moods and weird things that trigger them, and lots of people have uncomfortable family dynamics. But there are lots of men who do not use their wives as dumping grounds for their bad moods, who can apologize when they behave badly (and, importantly, try better the next time), and who don’t require very carefully handling to keep them for being nasty.

    2. PB*

      I’m so sorry. No, this isn’t about coffee. This is really awful. No, you shouldn’t have to live with someone who “mostly acts like they can’t stand you.” You don’t need to toughen up. All men are NOT like this, and your husband does not sound like he’s “one of the good ones” if this is how he treats you. And your mother-in-law telling you that you need to “respect him?” That’s a load of bull. Respect isn’t owed; it’s earned.

      It sounds like your husband may have some deep-seated issues with his family, but he should work those out with a therapist or a journal, not by taking it out on you.

      Again, I’m so sorry you have to deal with this. It’s not kind, it’s not fair, and it’s not your fault.

    3. Washi*

      It seems like you guys are doing these visits on the hardest mode – staying with someone who sets you on edge, staying for a full week, plus you try to power through your husband’s unpleasantness until it all explodes out.

      Why not play this on easy mode? Stay with other relatives, go for a shorter time, or have him do visits without you altogether. It sounds like right now you’re doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

      1. Jules the 3rd*

        Maybe split the time between brothers and mom, if you have to stay a whole week?

        We’ve gone separately to each of our parents, or gone on non-holiday weekends, and it’s better. You do not have to go.

    4. Homo neanderthalensis*

      All men are not like this. He’s not one of the good ones. This will only get worse. Couples counseling is a bare minimum here- and if he won’t go you need to talk to a lawyer. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear but it’s true.

        1. ThatGirl*

          Thirding! My husband has his moments but he always realizes and apologizes if he’s taking something out on me!

    5. Cora*

      This sounds tough. For what it’s worth, I go through the same thing when we go to visit my husband’s family. He is incredible, and when we are at home things are pretty damn great, but visiting his family really puts us both on edge and inevitably there is at least one stupid fight during the visit.
      I second the suggestions to make some changes in order to make the visits easier on you all. Maybe stay with his mom only every other visit, or have your husband go alone sometimes. I find that mentally preparing myself helps too – if I know my husband is going to be on edge and I know my in laws are going to say insensitive things to the both of us, it’s slightly easier to let it roll off my back in the moment.
      Also, I think it’s worth having a conversation with your husband once you’re home and things have settled down about what happened and how to minimize this in the future. Couples counseling may be worth it if this is a problem outside the family visits.

    6. Texan In Exile*

      No, they are not all like this, but I can’t even focus on your husband – I am furious about your MIL’s actions. Perhaps it’s my own history blinding me, but your MIL telling you how to behave toward her son?

      Completely unacceptable. Completely.

      I am reading this story to my husband right now and telling him how angry I am still about his mother lecturing me about how to do laundry for him. This event was 11 years ago. Eleven! I remember every second of it and I am still pissed.

      Point is that parents and in laws need to stay out of the marriage. And that your husband should have your back. And he should be nice to you. (And you to him, of course. :) )

      My husband’s parents hated me (for many reasons, one of which was that I ate bacon wrong), so I just stopped going with him to see them. That worked for us.

      Well, it worked for me. :) It meant my husband had to deal with them all by himself, but honestly? It was going to be awful for him whether I was there or not and we didn’t see the point of us both being miserable.

      (And then they died three years ago and yet, they still reach from beyond the grave to bring crap into our lives!)

      So. My advice is:

      1. Don’t go with him to his parents. Don’t subject yourself to that.
      2. You guys appear to have some stuff going on between you. Other commenters have given some wise advice about your marriage. Take it.

      1. Traffic_Spiral*

        Yeah, any opinion from her about how you should behave should be met with “I’m sorry, I’m not interested in discussing my marriage with you.”

    7. Koala dreams*

      You don’t have to live with someone who ignores you or are rude to you. One option is to live separate, so you can both go home when you get tired of each other. And you shouldn’t trust those “friends” too much either, they have weird ideas about men.

      If it’s more of a holidays are awful-thing, maybe you can stay at an hotel / motel / B&B next time and your husband can stay with his mother. The two of them get time together, you can catch up on reading or rest. Maybe even invite your mother in law to coffee at the hotel one day?

    8. only acting normal*

      Oh dear god no, all men are not like this! Ignoring you for a week, or acting like he can’t stand you, is not something “one of the good ones” does!

    9. blackcat*

      Agree with others that no, this is not normal, and you should stop going with him to visit his family. Let him be pissed about it, and offer to discuss any future visits to his family with a counselor present.

    10. Miranda Priestly's Assistant*

      Your husband’s behavior sounds very worrying here. If there is something in particular that is making him upset with you, he needs to communicate it upfront so you two can hash it out, but just being generally grumpy, passive aggressive, and disrespectful is SO not okay.

    11. Not So NewReader*

      Oh, grrrr. What others have said.

      He’s not dealing with his real issues, instead you are his substitute “verbal punching bag”. This is going to continue on until you decide to do something different. He already sees that he can get away with the behavior and he has for years so now it’s ingrained in him.

      You are absolutely correct it’s not about the coffee. I flashed back to the ONLY time my husband ever barked at me about stopping while on a road trip. We were stuck on top of an icy mountain in an ice storm that we did not foresee. The situation was so bleak even the dog was crying. “Make him shut up”, my husband said. Okay this is way, way out of character. I never heard my husband speak like this about the dog and def did not talk to me like this. I made the mistake of saying, “When we get down the hill, I could use a restroom.” He lost it on me. “If you didn’t drink coffee….” He went on and on.

      It was two miles down hill. We had no idea when help would be coming. The only reason we stopped was because of that WONDERFUL tractor trailer in front of us. Had that truck not been there we would not have known of the trouble ahead. It was getting darker and darker. We still had a long way to go on our ride home and we had to go to work the next day. (Many things wrong with this picture.)

      I dunno why, but I happened to have a Reader’s Digest with me. I started reading out loud. I read the little jokes or the short happy stories they always have. My husband did not laugh but he stopped being pissy. The dog stopped crying/barking but remained hyper vigilant. We got down the hill and he pulled into a gas station. “Hurry!”, was all he said.

      The point I am trying to show, is that when I decided to do something to calm the husband and the dog down, they both dialed back. Even the dog allowed himself to be consoled by my voice droning on and on through Reader’s Digest. Your husband is not allowing anyone, worst yet even YOU, to console him. And he has done this repeatedly for YEARS. His respect for you has either run away or died entirely.

      No this is not normal, no he is not one of the good ones. Your MIL needs to be more respectful of YOU. Your husband needs to get help. This is not what a marriage should be. Marriage is a give and a take; a back and forth. Your marriage is you walking on eggshells waiting for the next blow up.
      When you have to convince yourself that it’s not that bad, then it probably IS that bad.

      Tell him that since he is able to ignore you for your entire trip, then you will not be going anymore because clearly he does not need you there or want you there.

      1. KR*

        +1 If husband is so irritable around his family and isn’t able, after all these years, to see that and talk about it and find coping mechanisms that aren’t “Be mean to wife.” he can go alone and be mad alone.

    12. anon for this...*

      I sympathize so much :( We did not go to visit the in-laws for thankgiving (thank God for that!!), but being around them always makes my husband awful too, because he’s stressed out. And this family stuff really does come between us: his parents are mean, manipulative, ugh, while mostly being nice to my face (but I’ve seen the emails sent, I know they stopped talking to my husband for a year after he married me, I know they think I’m a gold-digging egomaniac knowitall who is taking him away from truth and goodness, I know how they’ve treated our child). Fine. I married him, not them. I can ignore them. But him: when I wonder if he even likes me, when I wonder why he’s with me if he’s so unhappy, when I wonder if he simply doesn’t have the courage to divorce me…. With parents like his, there is a lot to be unhappy about, but I don’t want it!

      I haven’t decided quite what to do about this. I laid it on the table for him and I don’t think he fully gets it, but he does claim he likes me, and has been less of a jerk since talking. Got “Too good to leave, too bad to stay” on Kindle & have skimmed it; it’s not totally positive but at least the first 5 signs were good. Thinking of taking a day of PTO and talking with an attorney just to know initial dos & don’ts if I were to decide this was over. I’m working on the mindset shift that I’ll do for him what I want for me (in kindness, courtesy, attention) and I will tell him very directly what I want (had to write a letter ’cause I can’t talk about it without crying) and if he can’t do it, I deserve to be happy rather than always unhappy because of someone else. Truly: I’m happy all day until he comes home & snaps about something stupid, like how I open a box of tofu. That can stop. He can be a grown-up and figure his sh&* out with me, or he can be a grown-up and figure his sh&* out without me, but he’s darn well going to be not a jerk to me or he’s going to be alone.

    13. Not Alison*

      Just writing to let you know that you are not the only one whose husband is different when visiting the inlaws than he is at home. Mine is not as bad as yours at the inlaws, but definitely makes comments to me that grind my gears. But we only visit them for a day at a time so I can put up with it and shake it off. But I definitely sympathize with you and agree with the rest of the commenters to let him visit his family himself.

    14. Anon Here*

      What happens if you try to talk about this when he’s not around his family? Is he open to talking about it? Does he acknowledge that it’s a problem? Does he apologize?

      I think the other commenters have given good advice. Some people are jerks when stressed. Visiting family can be upsetting, and some people don’t want to acknowledge that openly. But if he is a good guy, he’ll want to do better. He’ll agree that this is a problem. He’ll apologize and try to find a solution.

      What you wrote sounds concerning, and I’m sorry your friends are being the way they are. I hope you can find people offline who will support you more.

      1. lasslisa*

        Yeah. My partner and I get snippy when stressed and nothing says stress like living with your parents again for a week as an adult when you all have different ways of living and interacting, and all the faaaaamily pressures are in full force.

        But we talk about it. And we touch base to say, hey, the way your parents sit and watch TV for hours kills me, can you pay attention when I suggest a walk? Hey, my parents always get under my skin about cleaning can you please not jokingly agree and tease me? I feel smothered, can you try to help me get some alone time? All sorts of reasonable stuff to ask for.

        1. Anon Here*

          Yeah. Like most people, I can be a jerk situationally. Family stuff can bring it out. But if someone I care about points it out later, I always apologize. I try to apologize before it reaches that point. But, you know, I realize what I’m doing isn’t cool and I don’t actually want to subject people to it, and I want to do better. Just using myself as an example because it’s easiest. But this is one of those things where intentions do matter.

    15. It’s not about the coffee*

      Thanks everyone for the kind words and reassurance.

      Yesterday we spent 6-7 hours at his siblings house and he was back to his old usual self, relaxed, silly, etc. Even though the purpose of the visit was a serious reason, he wasn’t on edge like he’s been all week. If I look back and remember, he was fine for the most part on past visits when we stayed with one of his siblings. But now that his mothers moved back, he won’t stay with anyone else. It’s weird, she’s mostly nice to me and if I list out everything.. there’s nothing awful that she does. But my husband is always in a bad mood when around her so.

      As much as I like the idea of having him come alone, there are a few things here that I enjoy and would hate to miss. One of them being aside from my MIL I actually like seeing the other in-laws and hanging out with their kids. (And cat!). But for my own sanity, I won’t come for the next trip.

      1. Jules the 3rd*

        Or go for some of the time, staying at a hotel or the siblings’ house. Drive up together, fly home.

      2. Ramona Q*

        What she said to you about respecting him was awful. I’m glad you’ve decided not to stay there again. I hope you take folks’ other advice really seriously; this comment seems like it’s trying to look past or erase some really concerning and present dynamics in your family and the way they treat you.

      3. Managing to get by*

        Your MIL’s comment to you about needing to respect your husband, even when acknowledging he was treating you poorly, is telling. She seems to have some rigid ideas on gender roles within a marriage. Do they have much time alone together when you visit her, time that she could be belittling him about not being man enough in your marriage? Even though she is “nice” to your face, could she be saying awful things to him behind your back that make him feel conflicted?

        My ex-husband’s father, uncle and grandfather would periodically take him aside and lecture him on how he needed to learn to “control his wife”. Apparently I was too independent and opinionated, and I made them feel uncomfortable. After one of those lectures he would be just AWFUL to me for a few days, especially in front of his family. But even when he wasn’t being that bad, he was not a true partner in our marriage and treated me poorly in smaller ways.

        Are you SURE your husband is great when he’s away from his mother? It is very rare for someone to go from being just great to being just awful in a different environment. Are there things he says or does that you excuse him for when you’re home, but it’s just harder to make the excuses when the behavior is more concentrated like when you’re at his mother’s house?

        Can you talk to one of his siblings, or one of their spouses, about his change in behavior and the family dynamic? Do any of your other in laws have similar issues?

        What does your husband say when you talk about his change in behavior? Assuming this is something you talk about either before or after a trip?

        If you don’t talk about how his behavior changes around his mother, why is that?

    16. Jdc*

      We’ve all been there. We laugh now about our argument about onions. It was NOT about onions. My husband has done the grumpy thing before. Usually it’s because something is bothering him he hasn’t told me yet (in his case it takes him a few days to sort his thoughts). He shouldn’t be being rude to you of course but maybe a sit down to see what’s going on.

    17. LGC*

      Honestly, given the way you presented it here, it’s pretty obvious to everyone outside of the situation that it’s not about the coffee. Like, if you’d just spontaneously started crying because your husband got mad at you about asking to stop for coffee, then that’d be a bit odd. But he’d been sulking at you constantly for a week and you knew and this was the final insult.

      So yeah, it wasn’t what you wanted to do, but it’s totally understandable when you put it like that.

      But also, we need to talk about the last paragraph:

      No one in my life really gets it, how it feels to be living with someone who mostly acts like they can’t stand you. Friends and family say I need to toughen up, all men are like this, he’s one of the good ones etc. when we’re home alone he’s fine, it’s just whenever we visit his family he’s on edge. It’s been like this for years.

      There’s a lot to unpack here, but I’ll go backwards:

      – So why is he on edge with his family? Like, a lot of guys are terrible at talking about their feelings, but it seems like there’s something going on here. Is he better when his family visits you? Does his family generally like you (you know, aside from dismissing your feelings)? Like a lot of dudes, I think there’s some root cause that he’s refusing to acknowledge but has no idea how to deal with, so he’s just taking it out by being unpleasant.

      The bog-standard suggestion (which has probably been made at least 43 times already, by my count) is therapy. But in this case, it might be legitimate – you might not be the best person to work out his issues with his family, especially since you’re apparently the target of his issues.

      – As an actual real-life dude, I resent the implication that just because I’m a guy I have zero ability to deal with my emotions in a healthy manner. Like, he doesn’t need to be perfect, but would it kill him (and your family and friends) to acknowledge that just because he keeps a roof over your head and isn’t physically abusive he’s still being a jerk to you? And that in the Year Of Our Lord 2019 it isn’t that unexpected for men to work on their feelings?

      (Also, disclaimer: I’m not implying that he is abusive or even a jerk on a regular basis. He’s being a jerk on this trip, though!)

      – Finally – whoo. When I first hit the first sentence of this paragraph – where you said he mostly acts like he can’t stand you – I was all set to tell you to get a divorce lawyer on the line. (Therapy and divorce: the solution to all of life’s problems.) In the rest of it, it hopefully sounds like it’s just he turns into a jerk when you visit his family, which is something he needs to work on (perhaps with a licensed professional of his choosing). But if he’s regularly like that outside of that, then…to be honest, you deserve better than that. Maybe divorce is a step too far right now, but if he’s like this regularly you need to bring it up with him as soon as possible.

      Maybe he’s a decent man underneath it who’s…just not self-aware. I don’t know if he realizes that he is being that unpleasant to you (although honestly he should). If he is a decent guy, hopefully he’ll be ashamed at how he’s been behaving and find a way to work on it.

      – And then taking the 30,000 foot view, I think part of the reason you had a meltdown in front of your MIL and your husband is not only because he was being a jerk to you…but also because you felt powerless in that situation. (Same as a boss yelling.) Not only do you know he’s being a jerk, everyone else is telling you to put up with it because he does the Standard Man Things decently well. To use a Captain Awkward phrase, regardless of what happens, get a Team You behind you, because it sounds like that’s lacking in your life. (I’m glad that you think the AAM comments section is a Team You, but we might not be sufficient in this case!)

      Hopefully, you can entirely disregard the part about divorcing.

    18. GotTheTShirt*

      I’ve been in the same situation, but from the opposite side, and the best thing I can suggest is to wait until you’re home and things are calm, and then take your husband somewhere quiet for coffee, name what you’re seeing, and ask him what he thinks might help.

      In my case, the underlying issue sure wasn’t the coffee – it was my mother, and a lifetime of emotional abuse that had left me completely unable to resist her demands. She wanted my time, my money, my attention, my unquestioning obedience, and even there was a Litany of Sins she’d drag out if I failed to be the perfect daughter. Even if I realized the demands were unreasonable, which I didn’t always, she was my _mother_, and I owed her everything. Being around her was exhausting and painful, and if my husband made even minor requests they felt just impossibly unfair, because I had nothing else left to give. When I wasn’t around her, I could be a loving wife – but when I was there, I was a Dutiful Daughter, and nothing else. Not even just me.

      For me, it took a while. I needed first to understand that this wasn’t just how mothers and daughters are, and then I needed to find support for putting some distance between her and I. And I needed my husband’s help – he promised not to leave me alone with her, ever, and to help get us both out if I got overwhelmed. We came up with ways to ask “are you ok?” and signals for “we need to go now”, and we put boundaries on our interactions with my mother. I found other ways to channel the stress, and he found patience for me when I wasn’t handling it well at all.

      None of this is to say that his relationship with his mother is the issue, really, nor that you have any obligation to deal with it is. If you are willing and able, you might give him the support to get started, but that’s really all you can do. They’re his issues (whatever they are), and you can’t fix them for him. But no – the issue is not the coffee, and it’s not you, and from what you’re saying here I don’t think it’s even really him.

      1. BethDH*

        I’m behind reading these, but just wanted to say thank you for writing this. My husband has some similar patterns dealing with his family — and he/we are slowly working on them — but it helps so much to see this dynamic from a different person who shares his experience.

    19. It’s not about the coffee*

      We come from a culture where women are very much expected to take on traditional gender roles, the husband is the “god” and the wife must respect him at all times.

      Any man who doesn’t beat his wife, expect her to be a slave to his family, or cheat on her or do drugs or works hard is considered a good man.

      Im considered “lucky” because I “can” work, I “can” go out and see friends and am mostly independent. The bar is super low yet… it’s common for all men to make their wives upset and cry all the time.

      1. Ladybug*

        It’s not common to be upset and crying all the time. A relationship takes two people respectful of each other. Not all men are like this.

    20. Lilysparrow*

      All men are not like this.

      That said, I did have to get used to having less of my husband’s attention when we were visiting his family, because he (quite naturally) wanted to do a lot of catching up & quality time with people he sees only a few times a year. This was an adjustment for me, and I was a bit needy and grumpy for the first several years, which sometimes created tension between us that caused bickering.

      But that’s a far cry from “being extremely unpleasant” or “acting like they can’t stand you.” Not on the same scale at all.

      What does he say when you talk to him about it back home? I mean, you do bring it up, right? If he acknowledges that there’s a bad dynamic and wants to work on changing it, that’s something y’all can do. Maybe some communication coaching is in order. If he’s not willing to discuss it, or thinks it’s totally your fault or totally outside his control (like, “what can I do? that’s just the way Mom is..” etc) then coaching/counseling is definitely in order.

      People talk about marriage counseling like it’s some drastic last resort, which I think is an unhealthy attitude. Having a marriage-communication class or a few sessions with a counselor/therapist really is no different than going to physical therapy for a repetitive-stress injury, or getting dental work done.

      Life causes wear and tear, you know? On your body and on your feelings and relationships. Sometimes you need an adjustment or some extra care.

    21. Ladybug*

      I feel so bad for you. No, all men are not like this. Consider if it’s worth it or not. Sometimes it isn’t.

  7. Anony Mouse*

    We’re getting our hypoallergenic Siberian 5 months early(!!). It was supposed to be Spring, but someone had a “change in circumstances(?)” and was suddenly unable to adopt their kitty. (Not sure what that is, it’s not likely allergy-related). So, I got contacted 6 am about this kitty who needed a home, so we said yes :)
    Spent yesterday buying kitty supplies, cat tree, scratch pads, etc. on Amazon.

    1. We have a designated kitty safe room (spare bedroom with lovely window to people watch). How long do we put a 4 month old kitten there? We’ve heard definitely 1 week, plus if you’re away at work, so they don’t accidentally get hurt. (We each telework so the cat will see us most days of every week).

    2. We’re required to have a vet appt within 1st 72 hours of getting kitty. Do I sign up for pet insurance now (before getting the cat), with the 2 week waiting period then insurance kicking in just in time for that appt? (Or must I wait till the exact day we pick up the cat?)

    1. Falling Diphthong*

      Change in circumstances could range from any massive life upset that means they don’t have the attention to spare a new pet, to the more hesitant person convincing the other it wouldn’t be a good idea.

      1) I think we did about a week, though we had a dog for them to get used to as well. Spend a lot of time in the safe room, even if the cat is hiding under the bed (one of ours; the other was sitting on your lap) so they get accustomed to you. Take things at the cat’s pace re cuddling, bearing in mind that you are literally a giant that could crush it.

      2) I think pet insurance is used more for a fallback if they need expensive surgery at some point in the future. Regular check-ups, I wouldn’t worry about getting it in advance.

      1. fposte*

        Right, it’s not like human health insurance; you don’t need it to be a good pet parent. Some plans are tied to specific clinic chains (I guess that is like some human insurance), and it’s generally for catastrophic costs rather than checkups.

    2. Venus*

      1. For when you are home: Wait until they have had a solid poop (a move can be stressful and cause diarrhea) and when they show interest in life outside the room. For some cats this takes two weeks, and for others two hours.

      But yes – if you are going out for a while then leave them in the room, until you feel comfortable that they are ok.

    3. Venus*

      Also: Congrats! You must be very happy that you won’t have to wait :)

      And there are plenty of reasons that people can’t take in a pet at a specific time. When you take them in you want it to be a good time, when you can spend time with them. I have had people decline to adopt because of a parent’s death and knee surgery, and I could imagine loss of a job. In those cases they planned to adopt but decided to delay for a bit.

    4. Kuododi*

      I had one rescue kitty we had to use a safe room to help with adjustment. DH recommended I start with .5/1 hr and gradually increase as her comfort levels improved. I went in and sat quietly with her every day. (Would bring a book to read. Eventually she skulked over and climbed in my lap.).

      Fraid I have no data regarding pet insurance. We’ve always managed to pay out of pocket for our vet expenses. (More often than not paid on a payment plan.).

      Have great fun with the new family member!!! Blessings.

    5. Jackalope*

      I had pet insurance and ultimately didn’t find that it was worth it. They don’t pay for routine vet visits, or at lest they didn’t when I did research on them back when I got my cats. They won’t cover any preexisting conditions, and for some of them “preexisting” means, day, if your critter ever had a lump removed (even benign), all cancers, lumps, and any skin issues forever are not covered. Mine had fewer restrictions on what they covered, but I discovered that they had a $500 deductible per condition, which meant in practice that I could take my cats in for multiple conditions over the year, pay the vet thousands of dollars, and be reimbursed $40 for the whole year. I finally dropped it since I’d paid them a lot of money with almost no return. My recommendation now would be that you figure out how much money you would spend on premiums, and then set up a separate account at your bank and have them take that amount of your paycheck each month and deposit it into your pet account so you can self-insure. Feel free to ignore this if you would rather have the comfort of knowing the insurance is there for catastrophes, but this is what I wish I had done now.

      1. Venus*

        My impression was similar – there are some plans which cover regular visits, but they are more expensive, and in general the amount of money that you put in is equal or less to what you get out of it. Pet insurance tends to be for those who want coverage for $2000+ crises (broken leg, car accident, etc) but not for the day-to-day.

        1. PurpleMonster*

          I have some neighbours whose pet insurance wouldn’t pay out when their dog got attacked because the injuries didn’t get stitched (on the vet’s advice, because they needed to stay open to drain). I’ve never bothered myself but haven’t trusted pet insurance since that anecdote.

      2. Jules the 3rd*

        My vet has an annual ‘pay $, get Y services’ plan option (you can also do by visit), which includes some testing, a tooth cleaning, x number of office visits, y% off emergencies. The cat’s about 15 with a thyroid problem, we’ll use all the visits, so 6mo here is about 2/3s the cost of what I spent with him over the last six months at the last vet’s. I’d definitely check it for 0 – 3 yo cats, but would have to do the cost analysis for 3 – 12yos, especially if they’re indoor.

    6. Dancing Otter*

      I signed up for PetSmart’s kitty health plan. It covers two visits a year, annual teeth cleaning, lab work, and discounts on everything else. (Check their website for details; I’m probably forgetting things.) It’s worked out well for us in terms of cost, but it isn’t disaster coverage, more like routine maintenance with the cost spread evenly through the year.

      Also, I’m pretty sure it kicks in on your first visit.

    7. Lucette Kensack*

      I have pet insurance through Healthy Paws and it has been incredibly helpful. You’ll need to submit medical records to get the insurance started, so there’s no need to start it until your kitty has been to the vet. You should get it set up ASAP after that, though, because any condition that is known about before you start coverage won’t be covered. You can set your deductible amount as well as your coverage amount (of course the lower deductible and higher coverage equates to a higher monthly payment). We got it for my 100% healthy puppy at 4 months old and pay around $25/month, with a $500 deductible and 80% coverage.

      We got the insurance because we never wanted to be in a situation where we decided not to give the dog medical treatment because we couldn’t afford it. (And because when we discussed how much we’d be willing to spend to save the dog my husband said a number that, at the time, would have bankrupted us… so it was self-protective!). As it turns out, my pup has severe allergies — which weren’t diagnosed until after we had the insurance, so is not a pre-existing condition — so it pays for itself over and over again because it covers her (lifelong) allergy shots and medications.

      The one deceptive thing about Healthy Paws is the way they calculate your spending toward the deductible. We have 80% coverage, so they only count 80% of what we pay out of pocket before we cover the deductible, so the $500 deductible is actually a $600 deductible.

    8. Don’t Think About a Cat*

      Yes, apply for insurance now. Generally, exams aren’t included anyway, and you might need the exam to finalize the coverage.

      I think your plan for the room is sound. I tell people to wait until the kitten is trying to get out (has explored the kitty room thoroughly).

      Been a cat vet for 15 years, and I’m still always happy to hear about someone getting a new little soul to love. All the best.

  8. Peloton Peeps*

    Anyone have a Peloton? I’m considering one since they are having a great special and would love any feedback.

    1. California Ltd.*

      I do, and I love it! We got it at my wife’s insistence over my reluctance about a year and a half ago. I thought I’d maaaybe do a few scenic rides. But I just did my 350th ride last week and ride around 3 times a week.

      I’m an introvert. I hate to leave the house. And yet I want structure in my exercise so Peloton is great for me. I can get in a half hour ride in the morning before work and know I’ve done something significant.

      And to be clear, I’ve never been a fitness buff or gym rat. It really is good for people at any level of fitness. I’ve gotten really into the PowerZone training which sounds a lot more macho than it is. But each of the trainers and class types has something to offer.

      As a Peloton convert, I highly recommend it.

    2. Caterpie*

      My apartment complex got one for the gym and its really great! Nice for beginners as well as people who like advanced workouts too. Just make sure to be aware of the monthly subscription cost to access the videos. My SO decided against getting our own when we found out it would cost more per month than all our other streaming services put together.

      If it fits in your budget I would definitely recommend it.

    3. All monkeys are French*

      We were seriously considering it but had a hard time swallowing the cost. We ended up getting a good-quality but much cheaper spin bike and subscribing to Peloton Digital. I’m really pleased with it. Neither I nor my partner are the type to care if we are virtually riding along with others or being shouted-out. We just like having the motivation of an instructor. I also like that the digital subscription includes lots of non-bike exercise options.

    4. Jdc*

      I want one so bad. My friend researched and got the Nordic Track one. Apparently it’s a bit cheaper and offers some more features such as the trainer can adjust your bike. Might be worth looking into.

    5. Call me St. Vincent*

      Have it and my husband and I are obsessed! Do it! You won’t regret it. The teachers are amazing! We agonized about it for almost a year then wished we had gotten it much sooner.

  9. Hstrylvr89*

    Accidentally posted in work open thread. Pretty sure everyone has had a doctor that brushes them off without really listing to you. I have been going to the doctor for three years complaining about pain everywhere, losing weight, bruising, etc. They would just brush me off telling me allergies and pulled muscles. Well I finally got mad in office and told them to pay attention to me and actually listen to what I said. They finally did blood work and other tests. I tested positive for early onset arthritis. And I have to go see a specialist because it is a high chance that I might have Lupus. Icing on top of the cake, I called my parents in tears. And the told me, THAT GOD MADE ME SICK, so that I would come back to the church I left. I am proud because this site has helped me learn how to stand up for myself, so I told them No, and hanged up.

    1. fposte*

      Holy crap, H, what a thing to hear from your parents.

      I think it’s pretty common for autoimmune stuff to take a while to be diagnosed, so you’re in good company (looks like it’s six years for lupus, in fact, so you may be ahead of the curve). It’s a huge shock to see your body differently and face the daunting range of possibilities, but at least now you’ll have some helpful tools at your disposal; I hope they help.

      1. Hstrylvr89*

        Definitely had the symptoms for longer, but the church I was a part of was doctor phobic, everything could be fixed by prayer, and if you did go to the doctor, it was god that healed you and not medicine :(

        1. fposte*

          Granted, I’m a lifelong atheist, but you’d think the doctor would at least get a little credit for being the person God worked through when nobody else was.

          Anyway, I’m glad you finally got some info and have potential for some improvement; one of the benefits of a diagnosis can be you actually get to feel better. I hope that’s true for you.

          1. Hstrylvr89*

            Leaving the church was definitely one of the reasons I became an atheist also. Maybe if the church had not been hardcore I would still believe. But leaving the church it was all or nothing for me. If you want to know what it was like, watch the movie Borat, the church scene is one of our sister churches, so when I watched it after I left, I was like I KNOW THOSE PEOPLE, lol

            1. Jules the 3rd*

              If you ever miss the support and community but want to avoid the bull, Universal Unitarians are pretty nice, and atheists are welcome. When they say Universal, they mean it.

          2. A.N. O'Nyme*

            Nope. If you’re cured, it’s God’s work. It’s only the doctor’s work when something goes wrong.

            Yes, this is a surprisingly common way of thinking and doctors loathe it for obvious reasons.

          3. Observer*

            And that’s how plenty of religious traditions see it. The doctor is the messenger – for good or ill.

        2. Grace*

          The more I hear about faith-healing beliefs, the more terrifying I find them.

          There’s a really good video from Footless Jo on YouTube where she talks about how horrific it is to be part of a faith-healing community as a chronic pain sufferer – she spent her entire teenage years being told that if she truly believed in god, she wouldn’t be in pain anymore, so clearly she didn’t want to get better. A lot of people in the comments were ones in similar situations – they all seemed to find it really cathartic to see someone with a reasonable platform calling it out so bluntly.

          1. Ariaflame*

            Yeah, whether religion or The Secret or whatever ‘positive thinking’ mumbo-jumbo it is I have no patience with victim blaming people for being ill and for not willing themselves or praying themselves into wellness.

    2. Lena Clare*

      I’m so sorry that happened to you. I’m with you, it is so important to be heard and understood and I wanted you to know that I hear and understand you!

    3. Laura H.*

      God doesn’t work that way. I’m so sorry your mom brought it down to that.

      Being compassionate and meeting people where they are is huge. As a Catholic, I’m appalled on your behalf, and offer my prayers that you find good support, and have your people (we all have our go to people that help remind us that while it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, it’s not entirely doom and gloom either) to walk with you through your health issue.

      Internet hugs abound!

      1. Hstrylvr89*

        Yeah, that’s one of the reasons I left.i thought it was normal growing up that mental illnesses were because you weren’t praying enough, and stuff like schizophrenia was demon possession. Everything wrong could be fixed by enough prayer

        1. Laura H.*

          If it worked that way, I’d be running marathons and not need my walker… It doesn’t. Unfortunately, a lot of people who are religiously inclined don’t get that and also don’t know how to keep their mouths shut. Sorry you have to deal with that.

          1. Hstrylvr89*

            Comment disappeared, so reposting, one of my most embarrassing memories I have growing up was laying hands on one of the nicest man I have ever met. Completely paralyzed and telling the demon to leave him so he can walk again. He was in tears believing it would work. I believed it would work, of course it did not. Couldn’t apologize once I knew better because he still believed it was his fault, and it would go away if he prayed enough, and I didn’t want to patronize him or make him feel belittled for his faith in being cured

    4. Blueberry*

      I am so sorry both your doctor and your parents betrayed you like this. You did amazingly in standing up for yourself, and I’m cheering you on!

    5. Rebecca*

      I’m so sorry, and I’m glad you have a diagnosis. Lupus is one of the things my doctor’s office tested me for last Spring, and it was negative. I do have arthritis, though. I’m pretty sure God didn’t afflict me on purpose! As a Methodist, I’m sorry your parents said that to you, I believe in prayer too, but I also believe God gave us doctors and scientists and really smart people to help us, so I will say a prayer for healing, but I take my meds and do what the medically trained personnel tell me to do.

      For me, a prescription anti inflammatory drug plus muscle relaxants that I take at night when needed helped tons!! Good luck with finding meds and solutions. I’m lucky to have a PA who listens, does research, and finds things to help. I hope I can see her until I’m no longer on this earth!!

    6. Not So NewReader*

      “God made you sick.”
      Your parents are making me sick.

      So if this is true then who do non-believers blame? Uh, maybe it’s our polluted planet? Maybe it’s the mess we have made here? And everyone in their congregation is perfectly healthy, right?

      The irony is not lost on me, it seems like when we are sickest we have to fight the hardest to get someone to listen and respect us. Good for you for fighting so hard and winning. You are a very strong person and I bet you don’t even realize how strong.
      I always told myself, I am the only one who needs to fully understand how crappy I feel on the inside. And that is because I am the only one who can do anything about it.

      Put in some good self-care this weekend, whatever that means to you. I will send out good vibes that it’s NOT lupus. You will have to let us know how you are doing.

      1. Hstrylvr89*

        I am just happy that it was not all in my head. My anxiety told me that I was just crazy and that everyone has aches and pains. when I went from wearing size 46 mens pants to 16 womens and constantly had a red face, i knew something was up just not what what so i went to the doctor. They pretty much just patted me on the head and said allergies and good on you for losing weight, even when i told them i hadn’t changed my diet or exercise routine. I was reading a random article and it had a picture of a woman with Lupus flush and it was like looking in a mirror. even then it took awhile for them to stop blowing me off. I asked for a different Doctor and in angry tears i asked them to actually listen to me that something is wrong with my body, who knows what it actually is but please actually run some tests instead of telling me to take some ibuprofen and rest. I was right in the end and even though my tests results are scary I like that I am now actually on a path to figuring out what is going on :)

        1. Jules the 3rd*

          Good for you. One of the hardest things about coming from that kind of religion and background is to learn to value and advocate for yourself. You’re taught to ignore what you feel, that the reasons you thing are right are all wrong, etc. Keep on paying attention to you – your body, your feelings, they all matter, and are important, and are worth supporting. Good luck.

    7. The Gollux, Not a Mere Device*

      I’m sorry about the doctors.

      Your parents are making God sound like the bad guy–“you left me, so I’m going to hurt you until you come back and apologize.” I don’t believe in God, but if I did, and I thought God was like that, I’d say eff this, I’m going to hell anyway, I’m not going to bow and scrape to an abuser.

    8. Kimberlee, No Longer Esq.*

      Oh wow! I’m sorry you went through that (I’ve definitely left doctors because I didn’t think they really took me seriously, and my current doctor and I have a great relationship because I just explained straight up exactly what I expected from our relationship. It’s not easy!). And it sucks that your parents hear about these medical issues and try to use them as an opening to get you back into their religion! That’s awful. But I’m glad you’re here and feeling better about life, and you’re on the path to actually knowing (and thus being able to treat) your condition(s). Yay!

    9. The Rat-Catcher*

      My parents told me that everything from my depression to my chronic headaches resulted from not going to church and being “right with God.” I’m so sorry – they really can’t be part of your self care right now. Most of the world knows that you are in the right here. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of treatment.

  10. MOAS*

    I am so tired of defending my tastes and preferred aesthetic. I know I will never be “classy/sophisticated/elegant/luxurious” and I am fine with that.

    I gravitate towards pink. And flowers. and sparkle. Sometimes I wish some young girls clothes came in adult sizes. I’m in my 30s and more comfortable with what I like and I express it through my wardrobe and styling. for home, it’s a small piece here and there.

    Anyway I saw a really pretty pot at Walmart and asked for some opinions on one of my FB groups. Most were helpful but some were saying (nicely) it doesn’t fit their aesthetic. I had to bite my tongue to not respond back snarkily that It’s not going in their kitchen or home (and the design wasn’t even my question!)

    For various reasons that I won’t get in to here, I have NEVER been able to have an apartment/home where I can decorate the way I want. I just think some women esp in that group don’t realize that not everyone has the luxury of being able to design their own kitchen to their desired aesthetic. Its just…I am tired of defending my tastes.

    1. Washi*

      Whoops, re-posting in the right spot!

      I’m a little confused about why you posted asking people for their opinions, if you really like the pot and don’t want to hear about others not liking it. If you’re happy with your taste, no need to run it by others.

      1. MOAS*

        The post was about the product itself, if it holds up well to being in the oven/on a stove etc. asking about products use & performance is a very very common thing in the group.

        1. fposte*

          I don’t think Washi was saying that the post was inappropriate–it’s that it was to elicit other’s opinions, and now you’re unhappy you received them. Even if you try to restrict people’s feedback in advance by saying “Does anybody know if this is dishwasher safe?” or even “I’d really like to focus on practical aspects and not aesthetics” people will tell you all kinds of thoughts, because you asked for their thoughts. So maybe posting for people’s opinions isn’t a good idea if you’re stressed.

          The other thing, though, is you say you’re tired of defending your taste. The way to solve that is to stop defending :-). Everybody’s taste is horrible to somebody–really, many, many somebodies–and it’s not inherently a sign of a flaw in you or them that somebody doesn’t like the thing you do. I think you’re stuck in considering their judgment important and something you need to change or argue with, but what if you, as Anon Here suggests, just own it instead? The answer to “I don’t like the color” doesn’t have to be “Lots of people like goose poop!”; it can be a shrug and “Good thing it’s mine and not yours then.”

          1. MOAS*

            I was annoyed about the irrelevant comments. If I’m asking “hey how does this kitchen appliance perform?”, by all means tell me if it’s performance is good or bad. Just saying the color is ugly is irrelevant.

            1. fposte*

              Yes, it is. But that’s part of what you get when you ask people for opinions–you can’t custom-order the ones you want. Given that, it’s worth considering whether asking for opinions is worth it. Can you find the gold amid the dirt and be happy, or will you be too annoyed with the dirt? Keep in mind the people on a random FB group have no idea that you feel like nobody lets you keep your house the way you want it; they think they’re just talking about toaster colors.

              1. MOAS*

                True. This was the first time I posted about a product so I know better for next time lol. It’s a cooking group so there’s a lot of involvement for recipes, cooking methods, appliances etc. really good resource for ideas and all.

            2. tangerineRose*

              Tell yourself that the people who tell you they don’t like this color are clearly people who either aren’t paying much attention to your post (or they’d realize you didn’t ask), or they are over-sharers. Either option makes life harder for those people.

              I’m older than you, and I love pink too.

          2. MOAS*

            That’s true, I’m more comfortable with expressing my self via clothing and makeup (so I have a lot of skirts and floral prints) and have no problem shutting down negativity.

            I think the deeper issue was just that I was frustrated because I have never been able to design my living space the way I’ve wanted—yet people (close family) say I have no taste. My moms like “every woman desires to have a beautiful home and you don’t”. Anyways that’s kind of a different topic altogether lol

            1. kt*

              Hmm…. I don’t think that’s a different topic, actually!

              I think that’s really relevant!

              Don’t have a lot of good advice. Here are my two wacky Sat. afternoon ideas: 1) decorate the inside of a closet or cabinet exactly the way you want. I think Martha Beck and Marie Kondo both mentioned this as an idea; it’s kind of a private space where you can express yourself personally. 2) Watch Queer Eye on Netflix: I like they way they think about bringing a person’s personality and values into a space. I don’t like everything they do, but honestly it’s given me the most ideas for my home because they’re often just sprucing up this & that rather than doing some ridiculous remodel into an open floor plan with shiplap in a life I will never, ever have. On the other hand, I can relate to making a boring, messy bedroom prettier through some curtains & a nice trash can :)

    2. Anonie*

      Agree with the other commenter. No need to ask for opinions if you’re comfortable with your taste and what you like. Plus, facebook groups are the last place to get good advice.

      1. MOAS*

        It’s not just internet people. My friends/family do it too but it’s more good natured ribbing/teasing. It doesn’t feel bad in the moment when my friends do it. It’s the strangers/not friends who mock. And I can tell when they’re mocking.

        1. fposte*

          But it sounds like mostly people *don’t* mock; you said, “Most were helpful but some were saying (nicely) it doesn’t fit their aesthetic.” Nothing in there is mocking. Nobody here is mocking. Now it may be that even hearing your thing wasn’t their aesthetic was hard for you when you feel like a taste outlier already (or maybe you were thinking of a different encounter). Which leads again to the “Consider if the mixed bag that is internet opinion is going to be good for you right now” notion.

          But think of Jamie and her Hello Kitty life theme and pink Mustang. There are no doubt people who mock that. Do you think Jamie loses any sleep over it? It sounds like you might have some internal stuff going on about wanting to be admired for your taste, and that’s why it’s so hard for you when your taste gets questioned. But nobody’s taste is universally admired, and, as several people have mentioned it, what gets admired generally is *owning* your taste, not just being able to match earth tones in a room.

          1. Not So NewReader*

            Adding, earth tones or black and white kitchens are not your anesthetic. That doesn’t make anyone right or wrong, it’s just a statement of what is.

            When my cousin and I grew up and set up our own kitchens, we were both kinda surprised. She wanted a pink kitchen and I had earth tones. We both had a hard time picking stuff out for each other. Well, we were young and still developing our own sense of style for one thing. But we were also unfamiliar with the other’s chosen themes. We were each too busy figuring out our own stuff we had no brain space left for the other person’s stuff. It was kind of weird for a while. Finally she landed on a certain pattern at Penneys. Phew, I FINALLY knew what to get her. It was a journey.

            1. fposte*

              One friend and I are big on gift-giving, and while we’re both pretty in tune with the other’s design sense, I’d say our tastes are cousins but not siblings :-). So it’s kind of interesting to see my aesthetic reflected through hers and vice versa when we’re giving. It’s like our tastes got together and had a baby.

              1. Not So NewReader*

                I am laughing. A decade or so later, my cousin showed me things she had, “I got this because it reminded me of something you’d like or say that it was pretty cool.”
                Again, I was shocked.

                I can picture ten years out, OP, finds similar stories.

    3. Anon Here*

      Live it up! Celebrate your tastes! When people make comments, take it as a sign that they’re not cool enough to appreciate you. You can respond any way you want, but drop them a notch lower on your list of people to spend time with.

      I can relate. My taste ranges from “good” to “bad.” But if you just embrace your own style and really stop caring about judgment, you’ll give off a confident vibe that others will gravitate to. Being yourself enthusiastically is always good for your social life (though filtering of some people can be a side effect).

    4. Perpetua*

      I’m sorry you haven’t had the chance to live surrounded by things you truly enjoy, and I do hope something changes in that regard. IMO, sophistication is overrated – we are all different and why shouldn’t we get to enjoy the things we like?

      I recommend the book Joyful by Ingrid Fettell Lee if you can get your hands on it (she also has a website – aestheticsofjoy.com). I think you might like it and find some validation for your preferred aesthetic in it. :) Which is the type of validation I think will be useful, and not something you’re likely to find in FB groups.

        1. Perpetua*

          I hope you like it! I really enjoyed it and I think we could all benefit from infusing more joy into our lives and not feeling guilty about it :)

    5. Meepmeep*

      Why do you need to defend your taste? Own it. This is what you like. Taste is by definition subjective and it can’t be wrong.

      I love bright primary colors and try to surround myself with colorful things. They make me feel happy. I refuse to apologize or minimize something that makes me feel happy.

    6. Orange You Glad*

      Sounds like you have a lot of Youthful and/or High-Spirited style essences! Yay!!

      John Kitchener has seven style essences that he uses:
      Natural (comfortable, outdoorsy)
      Romantic (rich, luscious)
      High Spirited (textured, variety)
      Dramatic (high contrast, avant-garde)
      Youthful (cute, colorful)
      Classic (traditional, symmetrical)
      Angelic (ethereal, fae)

      Different people have different proportions of the essences.

      So you might be 40% Youthful, 30% High-Spirited, and 30% Romantic.

      That’s a VERY different aesthetic than someone who is 60% Classic, 30% Dramatic, 10% Youthful.

      Those two people would like very different styles of dress, home decor, etc.

      Knowing about style essences has given me a lot of confidence in why I like what I like and also deeper understanding of why specific people will *never* understand or like my aesthetic.

      1. Orange You Glad*

        My essences are 40% Natural, 40% Romantic, 20% Youthful.

        So I wear colorful feminine clothes I can comfortably sit on the ground in at any moment.

        I have an electric blue blender instead of a black one. Red sheets instead of white. Rainbow shower curtain, bright yellow dish towels, etc.

        That’s MY style and it works for ME.

        I support you in YOUR style that makes YOU happy!!

      2. MOAS*

        That’s so fascinating! I’ll read up more about it.

        I find everything pretty and tasteful and nice. I go to ppls houses and Ive never seen decor I hated. But when I’m in a store, I just naturally gravitate towards the blingy & colorful lol

        Clothing I’ve mastered pat. Interior design, I’m clueless lol

        1. lasslisa*

          I wonder if you might also be trying to get the most “bang” out of a limited number of style choices. Especially if you’ve never had your own space to decorate, smaller things would need to carry more weight of personality and happiness; the same way an accent wall is usually brighter than you would paint the whole room.

          1. lasslisa*

            Oh and just in case it’s not clear: this is a totally normal and fine reaction! If I have to wear a uniform except for my earrings, the most “me” earrings I can get away with are going on. If I can wear a dress in my favorite color that I like the fit of, maybe the little pearl studs are closer to the overall balance I want.

    7. LGC*

      So…I actually want to know if they thought that you were also open to opinions on the aesthetic. Or rather, that it was clear you weren’t open to opinions on it. Because I can definitely see myself saying something like that if I thought it was somewhat relevant. (I’m an idiot, if that counts for anything.)

      I think it was smart to not clap back because I don’t think it would have mattered much. I don’t know if they were saying you had bad taste for your cookware choices, just that the pot wasn’t their type. But…like, I know you’re tired of defending your choices, but you could drop a note in the next post you do that says you’re just looking for feedback on performance, not on looks.

      1. MOAS*

        I didn’t want to clap back since one of the people who commented is someone I’ve known for years. We’re friendly but not friends. Didn’t seem worth it to Be rude to her….I just ended up Privately sending her pix of a home from the 1960s famous for crazy decor and a devil smiley face. Lol.

        1. Not So NewReader*

          There is a pink retro oven for sale at a store near me. I so want someone I know to buy it. It is just so cool– er, maybe hot in this case.

    8. Dancing Otter*

      There’s nothing juvenile about pink. Check out the number of little old ladies wearing pink because it flatters aging complexions and white hair. Of course, there are shades and shades of pink, and the sparkles are certainly a matter on which people can differ, but there’s nothing wrong with pink.

    9. Jdc*

      When I was finally single added pink into my home. A decent amount, and some sparkle. If it makes you happy do it. I toned down some for my husbands sake but oh how I want this pink velvet sofa, although it would go better in a formal living room which we currently don’t have.

    10. LDP*

      I can relate to this! I wear a lot of pink and loud patterns and people always comment on it. I try to focus on how much better I feel with the colors and prints on/around me.

      Also, I would recommend checking out some Lilly Pulitzer stuff if you haven’t already. The ladies that rock Lilly sound like they would fit right into the aesthetic you described!

    11. MissDisplaced*

      There’s nothing wrong with liking pink and sparkles. I’m not sure why you can’t at least fill your own room with pink sparkly things?

      Anyway, I used to watch ‘What Not To Wear” and they had lots of suggestions to help people incorporate their unique and/or quirky style into age and work appropriate style, whether it was love of cuteness, costumes or die hard punk. Even so though, they always said that in your home you can be free to express that style in other ways. So I hope you find a way to carve out a space you’ll love.

  11. Juddddddy*

    One thing I’ve learned (the hard way) is that when there are a ton of warning signs, or literal people warning you, it’s ignorant to think, “Well, it won’t happen to me because I’m different.”

    It doesn’t matter if you’re different if the situation is the same!

    Case in point: if your landlord complains about her tenants, there are constantly people moving out, and you have to jump through hoops to live there……. it’s likely the landlord is also going to complain about YOU and kick YOU out too.

    It’s hard to differentiate because a place I lived last year, I moved out because my roommate sexually assaulted me (I went to the police and actually it was just “harassment” because she didn’t manage to insert anything into my nether regions, wtf). So instead of arresting her, they just wrote a report, which does nothing, and then told me they recommended I move out.

    But just because a negative thing happened doesn’t mean I’M a red flag. I also don’t mention it when I get new apartments. Like, “This apartment is great, there’s good light, I like the kitchen, but… I don’t know… I’m trying to find a place where my roommate won’t try to sexually assault me.”

    So I think it’s understandable why I would get confused between red flags and unfortunate circumstances.

    I had a job where everyone warned me in the first few weeks to be careful because everyone is let go after 6 months, and I just thought, “Oh, well, I’m different so it’ll be different. I have more experience.” WRONG. Same fate.

    I know this is the non-work forum so I’ll just leave that there.

    1. Blueberry*

      “One thing I’ve learned (the hard way) is that when there are a ton of warning signs, or literal people warning you, it’s ignorant to think, “Well, it won’t happen to me because I’m different.””

      This is so, so true. I’m so sorry people have put your through all this anguish, and I hope things improve for you.

    2. Miranda Priestly's Assistant*

      I think when your earliest experiences are negative or dysfunctional (whether it be living situations or jobs), you normalize it since you don’t have a better benchmark. I’m just here to remind you that tenants frequently being kicked out, employees frequently being fired, and having boundaries violated are totally NOT normal and you should never put up with those things.

      1. Juddddddy*

        I lived in a great place for 5 years from 22-27. It was rent-controlled, and I lived by myself. I had to move out because it was old and there was mold in the walls (though the landlord said he couldn’t see it and he didn’t smell it so it didn’t exist). It would’ve been hard to fight without them tearing down the walls, and I felt like it would be better to experience something else anyway.

        Since then, I’ve had to move every 1-5 months. It’s been 4 years of this. Some were month-to month, but some were actual year-long leases that still kicked me out. It never gets easier. It never gets better. I felt the same as you did, but now I don’t have a choice but to just accept this is my life now. It’s so extreme it’s like… I wouldn’t believe if someone told me this was their life!

        My hope is that in a year and a half, I’ll have enough credit and money saved up that I can live somewhere with a lower COL in a newer place.

      2. Juddddddy*

        I posted a comment but I guess it got flagged because it doesn’t show up.

        Well, that’s essentially my life now!

        It wasn’t always like this. Only the last 3 years. Welcome to student loans ruining your life so you can never live alone!

        1. Miranda Priestly's Assistant*

          I sympathize. When I just graduated, I ended up in a couple of demeaning housing situations due to having very little income and not many housing options, living in an expensive city. One experience was particularly so horrible that even some of my best friends and close relatives don’t know about it because I never retell it. The only friend who knows was in regular communications with me as it was happening, and the only members of my family who knows are my parents because I had to move in with them until finding a more stable place to live. Yikes.

        2. Jules the 3rd*

          A good room mate (pays bills, doesn’t yell / fight / assault(!) / steal) is worth their weight in gold. I’ve always roomed with someone I know, usually for a year or two, but that was easier back when we were college students / young professionals. Maybe ask around about whether your co-workers, friends or family know someone who wants to move to your area, or is in the area and needs a room mate?

          I wish there was a Tinder for room mates, though to be useful it would have to include credit score and references. Or maybe like LinkedIn, so you can see which FOAFs are looking.

        3. Elizabeth West*

          Income-based repayment helps, even though I will never actually repay them unless I get them reduced by *A PLAN*, win the lottery, or magically someone else pays them off. I cannot live with roommates. I’ve tried. I have terrible luck with them. Either I get someone noisy, someone who won’t pay their share, or like one time in college, they ganged up on me and kicked me out so they could move a friend in my place.

          Living with a parther is different, obviously; there’s a different dynamic there. But I won’t move in with another man unless we have a date set in the very near future.

          1. Elizabeth West*

            Parther…sheesh. PARTNER

            A parther: a rare and magical beast that shares the housework and keeps the rat population down.

    3. lasslisa*

      I figure I may be different from *some* people, but I’m not different from *most* people.

      Like they say, if all your exes were “crazy”…

    4. Lilysparrow*

      You have to learn to trust yourself on the “no’s” before you can really trust yourself on the “yesses”.

      Take some time to be over-cautious and potentially miss out on some “great opportunities”. Let every flag be a red flag without worrying about whether you misjudged someone. Your first obligation is to protect yourself, and it’s not mean or rude to turn down a person or situation you’re not sure of. You don’t owe your trust to anyone.

      It’s an important stage in developing/calibrating your risk assessment and sense of security. After a while, you will have built up a stronger inner sense of safety, and you’ll be able to make finer distinctions between “no” and “proceed with caution.” Or between what types of risk you’re looking at – financial? Reputational? Physical?

      An important part of risk-assessment and risk-management is understanding what type and scale of risk you’re willing to take because you’re prepared to cope with the fallout if you’re wrong. Another part is knowing how to compare risk with benefit.

      1. Juddddddy*

        I think when you’re living in poverty, you have to put up with a lot of crap. You see the warning signs and have pretty much no other option. Sigh.

  12. Argentina Travels?*

    Hi! Looking for people who’ve traveled to Argentina. Looking for a good mix of fun city and adventure travels. Already set on Buenos Aires and possibly Cordoba. Looking into Patagonia cities for hiking and nature. Has anyone been to Patagonia and if so, what recommendations do you have? Prefer towns that aren’t super touristy and that haven’t lost their original charm to attract more tourists. I’d like an authentic Argentine experience with the food, music and culture.

    1. Texan In Exile*

      It’s been – wow – decades, but I spent time in Mendoza, which is gorgeous. I don’t remember being particularly impressed with Salta – it was just a place I had to go through to get to Paraguay. (I was traveling by bus from Chile to Ecuador.)

      I also went to Patagonia, but on the Chile side. My friends hiked and camped in Torres del Paine, but I am way too lazy for that. Torres is for serious hikers, BTW. You have to check in with the rangers and you are required (or were, at the time) to go in pairs.

      My friend and I stayed at a hostel in the park. Even in a modest hostel where the room was so small that we had to be in the beds to close the door, it was very expensive compared to the rest of Chile. The food in the restaurant was also very very expensive but it was our only option. This was in 1994, so I expect things have changed. (I hope they have!) Had my friend and I known how expensive it was, we would have brought our own food in. We were hungry!

      We also stayed in Punta Arenas, which is/was at the time a very cute little town.

      1. Teal*

        I was in Torres Del Paine this time last year. SO BEAUTIFUL OMG. You must have a permit and if you are hiking the W or O trail, you can stay in the refugios (cabins) or specified camp grounds.

        I also stayed in Punta Arenas and we arrived on a Sunday and it was dead. I would absolutely try and go to “Penguin Island”/Isla Magdalena if you are there.

        I also took a day trip to Perito Moreno in Argentina from Chile. So amazing!

        1. Argentina OP*

          Torres Del Paine looks absolutely stunning. I’ve been looking at Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (I think Perito Moreno is part of that national park (?!?).

    2. Lora*

      Buenos Aires: stay somewhere in Palermo or Recoleta for clubs, music sort of thing. The two fancy parillas are Don Julio’s and La Cabrera, but totally worth it. You can walk or get the bus and taxis are also cheap and plentiful at all hours. Plan to have dinner around 9pm, eat for three hours, then go out to events around midnight. It is not a city for morning people.

      Re: authentic. Unless you are a fairly advanced tanguero/tanguera yourself, you will want to go to La Catedral and El Beso as they are MUCH more beginner friendly. DNI school does classes and performances that are very good also for beginners.

      Salon Canning, club Gricel, some of the snootier clubs, you will be only allowed to people-watch because there are Rules about interfering with the dance floor when the good dancers are doing their thing. If you want to go just to people-watch, there may be assigned seats, and you should dress very nicely. Not necessarily a tux, but men should wear a suit and good shoes with slick leather soles and women should wear a cocktail dress and heels. People really dress up for the older, more conservative clubs. And never walk on the dance floor in your street shoes, if you need the restroom or want to order something at the bar (though if there are assigned seats there’s usually waiters too), walk around the back of the chairs, not on the dance floor. It’s definitely extremely authentic but they have no sense of humor whatsoever.

      1. Argentina OP*

        Thank youuu! I’ve been looking at some Milongas and my husband and I are going to take up some tango dancing classes. We’ll see what happens :P the Milonga rules are super strict!

        1. Lora*

          Just remembered: get an app called Como Llego. It will help a LOT with figuring out what’s the best way to get from (wherever) to (somewhere else) whether that’s bus, taxi, etc.

          Also, you will definitely need to get your phone unlocked and figured out for Argentina specifically. They do not have Verizon or AT&T at all, and their electronics tariffs are so huge that even a burner phone costs several hundred US$$. On the plus side, if you have any old electronics you don’t want anymore, you can clean your old info off and sell them on craigslist for just about the cost of your plane ticket.

    3. wristy*

      I did a 3 or 4 day hiking trip in Nahuel Huapi National Park, near Bariloche. Very beautiful. Also, the far south (los glaciares), but my feeling is the weather can be a bigger factor the farther south you go.

      1. Argentina OP*

        Did you stay in Bariloche? The national park looks beautiful but I worry that Bariloche will be a bit too touristy for me. An Argentinian friend of mine also said that a lot of youngsters in their last year of college head down there as their “last trip” before entering the workforce.

    4. HurricaneLys*

      I was in Argentina for work last year in the Cordoba region. It was really fun! The city I was based out of was Rio Cuarto, which isn’t touristy at all. If you visit towns that aren’t often visited by tourists, it is definitely useful to know some Spanish. In Rio Cuarto, hardly anyone spoke English. I had friends based out of Villa General Belgrano, which is closer to the city of Cordoba, and they loved it. I visited them, and have to agree. It is a german town, with lots of good food, shops, and sites to explore (both in the city and in the surrounding area). I also spent some time in Mendoza wine tasting, and I think it was my favorite city I stayed in! In Buenos Aires, I recommend the Palermo area, which had easy access to all the tourist destinations and had many restaurants and bars walking distance from my hotel.

  13. Spoons please*

    Anyone have a hands free headset for their Android cell phone that they like? I want to be able to talk while I walk without holding the phone to my ear. I tried a BlueFit Bluetooth that had decent reviews on Amazon but the sound was dismal.

      1. Spoons please*

        I’d prefer Bluetooth but am willing to try headphones. I would guess it needs a mike feature. Which do you have?

        1. Ron McDon*

          I think they’re Sony, but they don’t seem to have a brand or model name on, sorry!

          They do have a mic so I can make and receive phone calls – I too don’t like carrying my phone.

          I like to listen to the radio/podcasts when I walk, and I like to use these headphones because there are volume up/down buttons where the mic is, so I can adjust the volume without fishing my phone out of my bag.

    1. AnonLurker Appa*

      I have some Sennheiser bluetooth headphones that I like, Very good sound quality. Not sure of the model, but similar to their CX7.00BT model.

    2. Ariaflame*

      I don’t use android, but I have friends who do and we use Aftershokz wireless bone conduction headphones. I’ve currently got the Trekz air model. They rest over your ears and onto your cheekbones and the sound goes straight to your ear canal via the cheekbones. Without blocking your ears from hearing other things. Bluetooth and I find the sound quality just fine. And some buttons so you can answer calls just by tapping a button on the headphones. Built in microphone.

      Not hugely cheap I admit but not hugely expensive compared to a lot of headphones and earpieces.

  14. Sunflower*

    I am in Barcelona this weekend (i live in the US). I have been told by friends that the skincare items at the farmacia here are much stronger and better than the products in the US. Is this accurate? I would love to pick up some stuff but am not big on skincare and totally lost on what is worth it.

    1. Lena Clare*

      It’s a long time since I lived in Barcelona, but the stuff you could buy over the counter was good quality, and I could get stuff over the counter there that was only on prescription here in the UK, so yeah go for it.

  15. Lena Clare*

    I just watched Preacher on Amazon and I am devastated by the ending. I mean, it was great but so, so poignant.

    I’m looking for something else to watch now. Any recommendations? Preferably happy and not-so-violent stuff
    I stick with BBC iplayer, Netflix and Amazon (UK).

    1. fposte*

      I don’t know if you can get these (Netflix UK is like Amazon in having some differences from US, I think), but have you watched Derry Girls? The Detectorists?

    2. ThatGirl*

      Schitt’s Creek has a terrible name but it is such a sweet, funny, heartwarming show. It’s on Netflix.

      1. Elizabeth West*

        Yes yes yes!! I love Schitt’s Creek!!

        Derry Girls is hilarious. I’m working my way through that now after getting caught up on Peaky Blinders (very violent, probably not what you want).

    3. only acting normal*

      That last scene :’(

      Happy and not so violent antidotes (and wracking my brain because mostly I gravitate to pitch dark horror):
      Good Omens on Amazon
      The Good Place on Netflix

    4. Lena Clare*

      I’ve seen all of these wonderful recommendations, thank you, except for The Detectorists, so thanks to fposte for that – it’s going on my list! Have a good weekend :)

    5. Traffic_Spiral*

      Over the Garden Wall is an adorable charming thing with great music. It took me an episode or so to get into it, but I wasn’t sorry. If you decide you *do* want to go back to ‘Preacher’ levels of dark, ‘Black Sails’ is pretty great. First few episodes are a bit “we’re like Game of Thrones, but with Pirates” but it gets reaaaally good the more it goes on, and the ending is as good as GoT was bad.

      1. Lena Clare*

        Thank you! I will look out for these, they sound interesting – I haven’t heard of them before.

    6. Jules the 3rd*

      We just started watching The Feed last night, I think on Amazon, hard to stop. Strong yes to Good Omens – my fave book for over a decade, they did a great job in the adaption, though they left out my favorite part (Things Not Working Properly Even After You’ve Given Them A Good Thumping, and No Alcohol Lager).

      I am always and forever a fan of Midsomer Murders, but having read Preacher, I am pretty sure any movie about it would be waaaay too violent for me.

    7. Lena Clare*

      Ah no I couldn’t get into Peaky Blinders! Derry Girls reminds me of school. It’s brilliant.

      1. Elizabeth West*

        I didn’t either at first; I don’t normally care about *gangster* type stuff. I was only watching it because of Sam Neill and Cillian Murphy but after plowing through a couple of seasons, I got really into it.

  16. Arya Parya*

    Any advice for a stubborn case of sinusitis? I’ve had it for a few weeks now. It seemed to finally go away a week ago, but came back with a vengeance about three days ago.

    I use salt water to rinse out my sinuses. I use a decongestant. And I use ibuprofen and tylenol to manage the pain, because tylenol on its own hardly does anything for the pain.

    Anything else I can do?

    1. fposte*

      As I noted here a few months ago, I thought for years I had sinus issues and it turned out they were migraines, and apparently that’s true of most sinus headaches. Is that a possibility for you? It looks like fever and nasal discharge are important in marking it as a sinus infection, and they tend to be bilateral whereas migraines are often one-sided. There’s also a thing called a contact or contact point headache, more common in people with a deviated septum, where the septum touches the turbinates and pinches a nerve, which leads to one-sided face pain in various locations.

      Obviously that’s more for a doctor to say, but if that sounds like a possibility I’d consider something like Afrin (a topical OTC decongestant that shrinks the membranes) and asking the doctor if a prescription level of ibuprofen might be helpful from an anti-inflammatory standpoint or if there’s something else they’d prescribe. And if it is a migraine/contact headache, the key is to get in there and nuke it from orbit ASAP rather than waiting to see if it gets better.

      Sorry. Pain that doesn’t quit sucks.

      1. Natalie*

        With Afrin and similar you can get into the rebound congestion cycle, which might seem like ongoing sinusitis if you’re not familiar with it. So definitely follow the dosing instructions!

    2. The Librarian (not the type from TNT)*

      If it’s a sinus *infection*, the only thing that I’ve found works reliably (other than passage of time, and prayer) is begging a doctor for antibiotics. And I mean begging; they’re more and more reluctant to give antibiotics, even though they work (I realize the reasons why are totally valid).

      Ordinary sinusitis is trickier. A saline solution sprayed or dripped into my nose has been good at helping me feel more comfortable. Ibuprofen does work, though not for a long period of time. Avoiding extremely dry and warm rooms is helpful — I’ve had fewer bouts with sinusitis since I moved from an apartment that was chronically heated to 76-80 degrees to one with a somewhat more modern heating system that’s usually in the 68-72 range. That’s a harder problem to solve, though.

      1. Colette*

        I sleep with a humidifier in the winter, which helps. (Which is why I’ve felt vaguely sick from September until I remembered I should be doing that last weekend. Sigh.)

        1. StellaBella*

          Are you using pillows and duvets you are allergic to? Can you change to new anti allergy bedding etc?

    3. Sinus issues*

      What works for me is to take a bunch of cloves of garlic and put them in boiling water, take a towel and put over your head, and breath in the garlic steam. Additionally, you can take some of the garlic water (when cooled) and snort it into your sinuses. It really helps with the congestion and garlic has anti-bacterial properties and it’ll be super diluted.

    4. blackcat*

      Both for me and several folks I know, it has helped to cut out diary for 2-4 weeks. Maybe it’s a placebo effect, but a placebo effect is still something…

      1. That Girl from Quinn's House*

        When I was growing up, my family pediatrician always said to cut out dairy during a respiratory illness, because dairy promotes the production of mucous, which will make the ailment last longer. It probably isn’t the placebo effect.

    5. Una*

      Wish I had more helpful tips, but just wanted to note that decongestants can actually cause rebound congestion if you use them for too long. I try to only use them occasionally when I have a really bad day.

    6. Traffic_Spiral*

      Try spicy Thai soup – like Tom Yum Gai. So spicy it makes you cry and your nose run = clears everything out.

    7. Observer*

      Second checking out migraines.

      Another thing to try is thyme. Steam yourself (same as the garlic process below) and drink the tea (teaspoon steeped in a cup of hot water, twice a day) during the sinus season.

    8. WS*

      Decongestant nasal sprays should be used for 3-5 days at most, because they cause rebound congestion. However, many nasal sprays marketed for allergies contain a steroid, and those are designed to use long term (Nasonex, Rhinocort etc.) I’ve had chronic sinus issues all my life, complete with several surgeries that each worked for a while, and a doctor put me onto a (non-prescription) spray three years ago. Since then I’ve had only one sinus infection, which is astonishing for me!

      1. Hooray College Football!*

        I rinse my sinuses with saline, and my ENT has me add pulmacort, a steroid used in nebulizers, in my rinse. She also recommended adding Alkolol, an OTC liquid made for rinsing sinuses. She said saline alone won’t dissolve the gunk in my head. It helps, but I still get infections 7-8 times a year. My doctor will call in a RX for antibiotics without seeing me at this point. I also have a standing RX for prednisone when they get really swollen. Looking at surgery to fix my reflux. I can sometimes feel the acid in my sinuses, so maybe that is contributing to the constant inflammation.

    9. moql*

      Left field, but I’ve had sinus issues my whole life and the only things that really help are antibiotics or acupuncture. I try to avoid antibiotics (was told at an early age that being on them for 1-2 months a year is terrible for my body), so I don’t really care if the needles are a placebo as long as they work.

    10. Seeking Second Childhood*

      This may sound odd, but how long since your last dental checkup? Upper jaw tooth trouble can masquerade as headache. I am not a dentist or a doctor.

  17. The Librarian (not the type from TNT)*

    It’s a long story, but I have about 4.5 free hours to spend in Philadelphia one day this week during the daytime. I’ll be traveling by Amtrak. What should I see in the 4.5 hours? I’m pretty sure I’m going to go to Reading Terminal Market but the rest of my time is a blank slate.

    I’ve already seen the Liberty Bell; meh, it’s a bell with a crack in it. I loved the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but there’s probably not enough time to do it justice on this brief return trip. It’s embarrassing, as someone who lives just 90 miles away, but I’m blanking out on what else is in Philadelphia. Bonus points if there’s a really good used record store or bookstore that I can get to by a train or bus that runs from the Amtrak station or by walking. Thanks in advance!

    1. Kathenus*

      You mention the Liberty Bell, but to me the best place in Philly is Independence Hall. If you haven’t visited that I’d highly recommend it. I’ve been there numerous times but every time I find myself back there with a little free time it’s my first stop.

      1. ThatGirl*

        I love Independence Hall but you do need a free, timed ticket now. You can get it at the visitors center across the street.

    2. Deserving porcupine*

      The natural history museum that’s part of Drexel is very cool, esp if you like ancient underwater beasties, and the Franklin institute, similar natural science stuff. (My advice is heavily kiddo influenced, so take that as you will.)

    3. ALT*

      If you want to do bookish things there’s The Rosenbach it’s a museum and library of rare books and manuscripts. They have a great Melville Exhibition right now. There’s also the rare book room at The Free Library of Philadelphia main branch. And The Library Company.

    4. Coffee Bean*

      The Christmas Village is open!! It’s right by City Hall so you can def fit in Reading Terminal as well.

    5. Jaid*

      The Mutter Museum of Medical Oddities is practically down the street from 30th Street station!

      19 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Just leave the station at the Market St entrance and head east. At 22nd, make a right, go past the parking lot and boom, there’s the College of Physicians.

      Bonus, there’s a Trader Joe’s at 22nd and Market, so you can get some snacks.

    6. Sunflower*

      30th street station is kind of in the middle of nowhere but Philly is small so it’s quick to get to and from places. South street and Washington square west have some cool book/record stores and they also happen to be my favorite neighborhoods with cute cobblestone streets and architecture. Philadelphia magic gardens is down that way and features a bunch of moasic work- there are also walls of moasic work outside of the gardens close to that area of the city that you can see quickly and for free but you’ll need to search for them since i don’t think there’s a record of where they are located. Philly AIDS Thrift is a close by thrift store where you can find books, records and all kinds of other cool vintage stuff. You can also get a cheesesteak at Jim’s on south street(or literally any shop- they’re all good) if you’re looking to get a taste of philly. Get a beiler’s doughnut at reading terminal!

      I think you can ride the regional rail to suburban or Jefferson station for free if you take Amtrak that day. I could be wrong about this so check the septa website to confirm.

      Download the Citymapper app to find the best way to get there from 30th street- my guess is take the market Frankford line(MFL) (or regional rail if it’s free) to Jefferson station to get to reading terminal and then walk 8-ish blocks south to Washington square west. South street is a few blocks east and you can walk back to Jefferson station or the MFL at 8th street.

      FYI- the septa subway station is outside of Amtrak station(where you’d get the MFL) whereas the septa regional rail station is inside of it. Hope this isn’t too Confusing- have fun!

      1. Jaid*

        The EL is located at the corner of 30th and Market. Go down the stairs and boom, huge underground station. The EL itself has stairs in the middle of the station. There are trolleys that make more local stops, located on the sides of the station.

        1. Name Under Development*

          Don’t forget the Barnes. It is a pocket sized art museum reflecting one rich man’s eclectic tastes.

    7. The Librarian (not the type from TNT)*

      Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I might not have enough time on this trip for the museums, but I’m going to get to work mapping things out tomorrow.

      1. Jaid*

        FYI, the Mutter Museum is adjacent to Chestnut St, which has some decent restaurants, like El Rey, Spice End (Indian) and there’s a Pho place on 21st and Market.

        Can you tell I’m plugging hard for the Mutter? ;-)

        I hope you have a great time, whatever you end up doing!

  18. Anon Here*

    I’m moving today! The place is really nice. I’ll be able to garden in the spring, and take baths. The landlords say they’re giving me a washer and dryer, which I consider a holy grail of the urban apartment rental experience. I mean, if you rent in NYC and you’re a creative freelancer (as opposed to, say, an investment banker) and you live alone, having your own private washer and dryer is practically unheard of. It’s something many spend a lifetime aspiring to. I can’t wait to buy a nice pack of dryer sheets with just the right fragrance and . . . do laundry at home!

  19. Colette*

    It’s my annual “what books should I buy my nieces and nephew” question.

    Nephew is 9, a good reader, likes video games

    Niece 1 is 7, not as good a reader, likes to do and experience new things and is pretty confident

    Niece 2 is 5. She’s an only child and stated kindergarten in September. She’s taking skating lessons, is interested in medical topics and unicorns.

    (I think the 16 year olds and 18 year old are getting gift cards for books but am open to suggestions for them as well.)

    Thanks!

    1. Earthwalker*

      Would the 7 year old like a small pack with field glasses and a Zim field guide or two? They’re mostly pictures. Would the little one get a kick out of one of those pocket first aid kits (the real thing)?

    2. fposte*

      Going backwards:

      5 year old:
      The good unicorn stuff lately is funny.
      Ame Dyckman’s You Don’t Want a Unicorn
      Bob Shea’s Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great
      Bethanie Murguia’s Do You Believe in Unicorns?
      If she is reading ahead of the curve, she might be ready for Rachel Hamilton’s Unicorn in New York

      7 year old:
      Jim Benton’s Catwad
      Drew Daywalt’s Monkey and Cake books (these are wild–they’re rollicking easy reads that explore pretty complex philosophical concepts)
      If she’s interested in natural history, Candlewick has a great nonfiction not-quite-series in picture book format; this year’s best example is Martin Jenkins’ Beware of the Crocodile
      And of course, Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books; also have a look at Mac Barnett

      9 year old:
      M.M. Vaughn’s Friendroid is a not-too-heavy story about robot friendship
      Kwame Mbela’s Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is an entry from the Rick Riordan stable of mythical adventure that draws on African and African-American folklore
      Thomas Taylor’s Malamander is an old-school Treasure Island-type adventure with a mythical sea beast

      16 and 18 is dependent on tastes and maturity, but it’s hard to resist Justina Ireland’s Dread Nation (zombies in a post-Civil War U.S. with African American zombie hunters), Alexander Thomas’ How We Became Wicked (mosquitoes spread a plague that makes people love to kill everybody), or Peadar O’Guilin’s The Call (fairies driven underground yank humans into their world for three minutes, and teen humans attend academies to learn to survive it) if they have any tolerance for horror (none of these are huge gorefests). For realism, Mariko Tamaki’s Laura Dean Keeps Breaking up with Me (graphic novel painfully accurate about bad teen relationships and toxic partners). Since they’re probably Canadian, Sarah Miller’s The Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets, riveting nonfiction, may be of special interest.

      1. Koala dreams*

        For the teenagers, the murder robot series by Martha Wells is good. It’s SF about a social awkward robot.

    3. Traffic_Spiral*

      All the Dr. Suess books, a good illustrated collection of fairy tales, maybe the Narnia books for the 9-year-old, and get Treasure Island, the Hobbit, and Phantom Tollbooth on standby for when he can read at that level, and maybe Harry Potter?

      1. Colette*

        Thanks! I’ve definitely given an older sister Harry Potter, and maybe Narnia? But the others are good ones to keep in mind.

    4. Freezing unbaked pies*

      I’m a dinosaur myself, but for the nine-year-old take a look at From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. For the seven-year-old, if someone is still reading to her, try Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. The five-year-old might like one of the illustrated DK books on human anatomy. I think the age-appropriate ones are the Visual Dictionary series.

      1. Colette*

        Thanks! I think I’ve already given that family the Narnia books and Harry Potter … although suddenly I’m not sure about Narnia.

        1. Colette*

          Well, this ended up in the wrong place! I may have given them the Mixed Up Files already, I’ll check the others out.

    5. Kirsten*

      My ten year old boy is loving anything by Rick Riordan, the Land of Stories series, and the Wings of Fire series. Another good series is The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.

    6. Sparkly Librarian*

      Maybe the 7yo would do well with a magazine subscription. I was thinking American Girl (for the crafting and “try something new”) or Ranger Rick, but shorter blocks of text coupled with photo illustrations might help with her reading confidence.

      1. Seeking Second Childhood*

        Amercantile Girl also has really good stories, including one by Lauren Yep who I should have thought to mention. I first ran across his fantasy “The Dragon of the Lost Sea” and went looking for another in the series ended up with the historical fiction “Dragonwings”. And was hooked. My favorite may be “When the Circus Came to Town”, about a rural western kid meeting someone Chinese for the first time.

    7. Julia*

      I highly recommend the blog Everyday Reading. She has TONS of curated books lists by topic and age. She used to be a children’s librarian. I can 100% vouch for her taste as I read all of her adult book recommendations and they’ve been fantastic!

    8. Nancy*

      How about The Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula Le Guin for the 9 year old (actually, it was a trilogy when I came across it, but I think it’s grown since). Maybe the 7 year old would like the Worst Witch by Jill Murphy (it’s a series) or one of the Jack Stalwart books by Elizabeth Singer Hunt.

      Also, both my boys (7 and almost 5) love Ancient Greek/Roman myths!

    9. Jules the 3rd*

      My 12yo has been obsessed with Minecraft since he was 6 – there’s a ton of books related to it. Comics, programming guides, ‘Diary of an 8 Bit Warrior’ series. His friends with game enthusiasms are starting to get into manga – Legend of Zelda’s got multiple manga titles. Rick Riordan – kinda the new Hardy Boys, mediocre pulp adventure, I’d get one to see if he likes it before diving into them all. 9 / good reader is not too early for Harry Potter and The Hobbit.

      Ursula Vernon’s Hamster Princess is about right for the 7yo, and / or Danny Dragonbreath. They’re designed to be transitional from picture books to chapter books, they’re funny, her adult stuff wins Hugos.

      The 5yo – that’s a challenging one. Maybe see if her interest in unicorns also includes dragons, because there’s usually a lot of overlap, and there’s a lot more dragon options, like _How To Tame A Dragon_ series. I did grow up loving an anatomy book that had clear plastic overlays for each system, and I’ve seen some like that around, but you have to hunt, probably on-line or in the adult section. I think mine was a college textbook. General biology books might also be of interest, and there’s a lot about ecosystems out there.

      Larry Gonick’s books might be something you could explore. His ‘Cartoon Guide to X’ is factually / scientifically accurate as of their dates of writing, he’s funny, and the pictures kinda hide just how advanced the data is. My 12yos on his 3rd time through ‘Cartoon History of the Universe’, since his 6th grade social studies class has touched on Hinduism and Islam – my response was, ‘the teacher’s dumbing it down, re-read this for the real story.’ (though he says she is telling him Rama is an incarnation of Brahma, and I’m all like, ‘no, what? Vishnu! Vishnu’s the god who mucks around on earth with Rama and Krishna et al’ but maybe he misunderstood)

    10. Seeking Second Childhood*

      Ideas for the 7yo… both by Tui T. Sutherland: “Pet Trouble” series (“Mud Puddle Poodle” and “Runaway Tetriever” were favorites.)
      “Wings of Fire” series, first book ‘The Dragonet Prophecy”
      If she’s an advanced reader consider the Warriors series by Eric Hunter (and I’d forgotten that’s a pen name for a group including Sutherland!). First title “Into the Wild”. This one’s about a pet cat who escapes to join a feral colony with a full culture and magic and… my daughter & her friends loved it, male & female alike.

    11. Lilysparrow*

      Aaron Becker’s wordless trilogy (Journey, Quest and Return) are wonderful for kids 5-10. They are gorgeously illustrated fantasy adventures, graphic novels without words. The stories are surprisingly sophisticated but very easy to follow.

      Kids who like the adventure plot can go through them more quickly and stay engrossed – there’s plenty of “wow” factor. And kids who like to pore over detail will find a wealth of fascinating tidbits.

      It’s awesome to sit down with a child and have them “read” you the story from the pictures. These are my go-to-gift.

  20. Marzipan*

    A little update on my progress following my latest round of double-donor IVF… I had my 20 week scan this week, and all seemed well, so I’ve finally gone ahead and told people. (I did tell my dad at 16 weeks, and one person worked it out about a week and a half ago, but otherwise nobody knew a thing about it.) It’s really weird having people know, and I do have a baseline level of ‘now it will all go wrong and I’ll have to tell everyone’ worry going on, but people seem super pleased and supportive, which is really lovely.

    For whoever it was on here that wished me the world’s most boring pregnancy: so far that seems to be the case, so thanks!

    Thinking, as always, of anyone struggling.

  21. Perpetua*

    I’m due with our first baby in February, and it seems that my partner will need to travel for work for about half the month (one full week at home, then one workweek away) from January to April. We’re hoping we’ll be able to figure something out so that he can be here for the birth, but he’ll still be away for much of the newborn phase. We’re a bit sad that it turned out this way, as we were looking forward to doing it all together, but it was too good of an offer to pass, so we’ll make it work.

    Both sets of grandparents live relatively nearby (20-30 min drive, but we’re all in the same city), and they’re ready to help, but it will probably be my mom who will help out by staying over when he’s away and helping me with whatever is necessary. We have a loving, but complicated relationship, so I’m not sure how it will all turn out, but I do think she’ll do her best to be there for me and the baby.

    I guess I’m looking for advice from people in similar situations – what has helped, what has been important to you in order to make it through this intense time without full-time physical support from your partner?

    1. Marzipan*

      Given that both sets of grandparents live so nearby, do you feel you’ll want someone physically staying with you at times when your partner will be away; or would you be more comfortable having them come by to give you lots of help, but not stay all the time?

      1. Perpetua*

        My current plan is to have my mom sleep over (and stay for most of the day, but not necessarily 100% of the time if it doesn’t work for her or me) when he’s away, because I think I’ll feel better not being completely alone with a newborn, especially during the night.

    2. ForOneDollar*

      If I were you, especially with my first, I’d absolutely have my mom stay with me during the first month. Physically and emotionally, I could not have done it alone, particularly the nights. Other than that, I suggest prepping lots of meals in advance and investing in a good baby carrier.

    3. blackcat*

      I’d consider hiring a doula if there’s any chance he’d miss the birth. My doula was invaluable even though my partner was there. You can see if there’s a doula who would be there both for the birth and for drop in visits afterwards. There’s a website called doula match.

      1. Perpetua*

        Thank you, and yes, I’m definitely considering having a doula as a back-up option for the birth. I’m in Europe so the website unfortunately won’t help me, and doulas are a fairly new profession in my country, but they are slowly becoming more popular and I have one or two options I’m thinking of meeting and seeing how we click.

        1. Fikly*

          I don’t know if this is common in Europe, but there are also postpartum doulas, who help with nights and days with baby care and you care as well.

          And in general, I would set boundaries now. You may not know exactly what you’ll need, after you give birth, but you’ll probably have a good idea of what you don’t want, and you can always change your mind later. This way you can have boundary conversations when you’re not flooded with postpartum stress and emotions.

    4. I'm A Little Teapot*

      You say you have a loving but complicated relationship with your mother. Depending on what flavor of complicated you’re dealing with, it’s ok not to have her stay over. It’s ok to keep her as a short term helper. It’s ok to tell her that the instant she brings up x topic she’s kicked out. Whatever you need is ok.

      Your needs will come first. Anyone who won’t be able to recognize that and actually act that way will be a liability to you. And you are 1000% ok to enforce those needs, and to change the plan because someone has failed. Do not let anyone tell you differently.

      1. Perpetua*

        Thank you for the reminder, that is the attitude that I have towards this as well, but it’s good to keep it in mind.

        As for the flavor of complicated, it’s mostly her (historical, but the effects are still sometimes present) difficulty to recognize me as a separate and different person to her, paired with her tendency to offer unsolicited advice and not stop at “no, thank you” if we disagree (I’m fine with disagreement itself and with moving on from the issue, I just don’t want to continue fighting about the issue and it takes her a while to let go). A simple example would be this: when I mentioned that I plan on trying to use cloth diapers with the baby, her reaction was to tell me that it was absolutely too difficult for me and that I would fail and that it was too much work, etc. She even called me a couple of days later to tell me that she talked to my grandma and they BOTH concluded that I would not succeed. :P Whereas I didn’t ask for her approval or opinion in the first place, and I’ve calmly explained to her that I’ve done my research and I’m quite motivated to do it, but also ready to be flexible if necessary.

        I’ve done a lot of work around my emotional separation from her and making my boundaries quite clear, so it’s much better than it used to be, but I’m also aware that having a baby/grandchild is the “perfect” time for unsolicited advice and clashes around potential approaches. On the other hand, I do think she’ll try to really help me in these circumstances and I’ve heard of several examples of mothers and daughters getting along much better than might be expected in this type of situations, so I’m hoping that might be the case with us as well. If not, the setup will have to change. Thank you for the support!

        1. I'm A Little Teapot*

          Give her a chance. If she can’t rise to the occasion, then she can live with the consequences. And cloth diapers can absolutely work, but if circumstances conspire against you, don’t sweat it. Baby, and you, will be fine.

    5. Anon time*

      My husband was around but has health problems that prevented him from helping with much infant care- he has a really bad back. He didn’t stay overnight at the the hospital with us because we were worried about his back going out. He also has no paternity leave, so literally only took a day or two off. It was hard, but we got through it.

      It was helpful for me to have a backup person to be with me in labor if he couldn’t- my mom came to be with me for part of my labor, but a friend or a doula would have also been good. My mom and husband were with me when the baby was born, but my first night after the baby was born was spent alone at the hospital. It was fine. The nurses are there to help. I would have preferred my husband being there, but it really was ok.

      Once the baby comes home, it’s really helpful to have either a stash of food or a way to get meals. My mom had made us a couple of weeks worth of frozen meals, and we also had a friend organize a meal train. You’re just so busy/tired, that that is really helpful. Stocking up on one handed snacks or meals (granola bars, frozen burritos) is also helpful, since when you’re holding the baby constantly, it’s hard to do things like cereal that require two hands.
      My mom didn’t stay over night, but came over every afternoon for a few hours to do things like do laundry and get the mail, and I found that helpful.

      I also found it helpful to stock up ahead of time on things like laundry detergent, pet food, and toilet paper. It makes sense, but I went through toilet paper much more quickly than normal because I was home all the time instead of being at work.

      You can do this! There will be hard parts but you can totally do this.

      1. Anon time*

        I also strongly recommend finding an online mom group for people you can message late at night. Reddit’s baby bumps group has sub groups by month of due date. I recommend joining one now, because they become more restricted eventually and stop accepting new members. But that was a huge lifeline. I messaged with those ladies at all hours. It was nice having contact with others going through the same thing.

        Here’s a link to accessing the monthly subreddits.
        https://www.reddit.com/r/BabyBumps/wiki/index

      2. Perpetua*

        Thank you, lots of practical advice here, especially about the toilet paper and stocking up.

        And that last part is what I keep repeating to myself – it might be hard at times and it might be different from what I originally imagined our first days with the baby will look like, but I/we can do it! :)

    6. The Meow*

      This might not be the suggestion you want so apologies in advance if I’m overstepping. But is it absolutely necessary for your partner to be away that time?

      I say this because my husband got called into work two days after the birth of our first child. I thought I would be totally ok but it turned out I really wasn’t. I didn’t even survive one day before calling him crying and asking him to come back. I was drowning in postpartum hormones, exhausted, and only wanted my husband to be there. Having supportive grandparents around was not enough of a substitute for my husband.

      He also regrets going back to work so soon after our son’s birth. He said he would never get that precious time back so wishes he stayed with us.

      1. Perpetua*

        That’s a perfectly logical question, so no worries about overstepping. And it’s the first question we asked ourselves as well, because we were aware from the beginning that this is quite unfortunate timing. Ultimately, we concluded that the opportunity was too good to pass up, even with the challenges it adds.

        He’s a freelance developer and he’s been working for equity at a startup he loves for almost this whole year (it’s a small team and he entered into the agreement fully aware of the risks, so it’s not a case of him being duped, if anyone worries about that) which means that he’s had little actual money coming in. The work engagement I’m talking about here is for a limited-time project that pays more than double his usual rate, so it would give us financial peace of mind for a while (especially with me being out of work for most of next year probably, as I’m a freelancer as well). In addition to that, the location he will be traveling to is a huge tech hub (unlike our city/country), providing potential opportunities for future engagements.

        What you’re describing IS one of my (and our) major worries, that he’ll miss out on a unique time in our first child’s life, and that I’ll really miss HIS support, because he’s the one I chose to have this baby with, not my mom or any of the other grandparents. Then again, if it turns out to be really unbearable, we can probably figure something out at that point. He’s been open with the project managers about expecting a baby in February and they said they’d make it work, so best case scenario, he might be able to skip one or two onsite weeks and leave for the first time when the baby is around a month old, which might be at least a bit easier than the very first days or weeks.

        Thank you for sharing, it’s valuable to hear from people who’ve had such an experience.

    7. Dancing Otter*

      My then-husband went back to work the afternoon I delivered. It was fine being on my own in the hospital afterwards, with hospital personnel around.

      Where I missed having help was being stuck at home with no way to get anything if I needed it. Nowadays, with delivery services so much more available, I think it would not be as frustrating. Your local equivalents of Peapod and Grub-Hub, drugstore.com and Amazon, etc., will be your new friends. Think of higher prices and delivery fees as the cost of hubby being away.

      Agreed with the other suggestions about food: prepare & stock up in advance. Also, learn to nap when baby does, even if the floor needs sweeping or whatever. Help is needed for housekeeping necessities while you bond with baby, not to step in for childcare – well, maybe watching baby while you rest. Grandmothers have a tendency to get that backwards.

      Can you afford, or suggest as a baby present, diaper service for the first few weeks? Cloth diapers have many advantages, but they are more labor-intensive. This is especially true initially, when babies have very liquid “output”, shall we say?

    8. Thankful for AAM*

      First, trust yourself!

      Second, don’t try to take care of the other people who are there to take care of you.

      Third, can you have the hard conversations ahead of time with your mom or anyone else who helps? Something like, “I don’t know what I will need and I don’t know how I will take having people here in my space helping me. What if I need to be by myself for a bit to go have a private cry or if someone gets upset that I want to try someone else’s advice, etc. How can we plan ahead so that this goes well for everyone?”

    9. Jules the 3rd*

      What helped most was letting go of expectations of how things ‘should’ work and doing what really worked. I had trouble breastfeeding, spent 4 mos doing all the tricks (fenugreek, etc), only really had enough for him to eat for about 2mo. Kept feeding, and pumping to keep up production, but started to supplement with bottles, he is fine.

      Everyone’s ‘should’ will be different, but when you’re stressed, look hard at anything you think ‘should’ be a certain way, and ask your doctor whether it could be different, if they have ideas on how.

      A schedule really helped too, though we were kinda loose, where I’d hand over baby for 4 hrs (8 to midnight) and sleep. Partner or mom would bring babe for breastfeed at 12, or would bottlefeed him, and then put him to sleep for me, and I’d get the next round. It was very important that I head to sleep right at 8, because I’d be up at around 3 or 4 for the morning feed.

      We did put him in a european-style box next to our bed for 6mo, so feeding was ‘roll over’ instead of ‘get up’, which also helped.

    10. My Brain Is Exploding*

      My experience is that Mom should know she is there to take care of YOU so that you can take care of the baby, and that you and your partner are making decisions about the baby’s care. So have a plan of sorts… Mom can cook, clean, care for baby while you nap, etc. I had kind of a difficult but loving relationship with my mom but when she came out after we had kids that was about the best we ever got along!

    11. Seeking Second Childhood*

      One thing to consider and discuss in advance– how to tell if one or both of you are getting punchy enough from lack of sleep to need alone time. Have a preapproved way to say you need it, and maybe a way to say the other seems tired enough that they need to go get a few hours of sleep.
      Because in retrospect my husband and I should have done that!

    12. Countess Boochie Flagrante*

      Anyone have recommendations for a soup that can sub for tomato in the classic tomato soup/grilled cheese pairing? I fondly remember this meal from childhood, but my tomato sensitivity has gotten worse as an adult and the soup is now a no-go for me. So, similar flavor profile, also very creamy, ideally some kind of vegetable content?

      1. Countess Boochie Flagrante*

        Whoops, this was not supposed to be a reply. That’s what I get for posting on mobile, I guess! Sorry about that.

    13. Alexandra Lynch*

      Arranging for a lot of support from other sources.
      Having a baby is hard work. Especially since the last month or two are exhausting. I found out, thanks to giving one up for adoption, that it takes me about a week of lying around and sleeping a whole lot to get physically over giving birth. So don’t assume you’ll be your regular self; if you can get enough help that you could, in theory, have someone else doing baby care 24 hours at any point during that time, that’s good; you can always say, “I’m okay, hand me the baby.” The less help you have the more trouble you’ll have getting over the birth. This is my experience, at least, with a husband who was a trucker.

  22. Kendra*

    People are always yelling random crap to me on the street with such hate. I posted about this a while ago. It’s like not cat calling it’s just like yelling random shit at me. I moved to a different neighborhood and it doesn’t happen as often in this neighborhood, I think because young white women is a more normal demographic in this area, sadly. I hate to say that.

    Anyway, I was walking with my male friend downtown, and someone jumped up in front of us and yelled at me for being a f***ing lesbian. I mean I’m not, but like what the f does that matter. That’s not the first time someone has done that. Anyway, I told my friend that that happens a lot, and his response was like, “well he probably wasn’t talking to you. That’s too specific of a thing to say to someone to come up with that fast.” Lol

    1. Miranda Priestly's Assistant*

      Do you live in the city? When I used to live in the city, there were a bunch of men in my neighborhood who would either hang out on the sidewalks or their front porches and yell at women walking by. Usually a combination of sleazy cat calling and more hostile terms like “bitch” or “faggot”. It was extremely off putting, and a large reason why I decided to move outside the city. I feel bad because it is a traditionally poor neighborhood that is struggling from the effects of gentrification, and I want to be open-minded…but yeah, it’s probably better for everyone involved if the mere presence of women illicits such disturbed behavior.

    2. NaoNao*

      In my experience, even well meaning male friends don’t “get it” until they see it with their own eyes. I’ve told a few male friends about similar very upsetting experiences and they’ve brushed it off. Because it breaks the social contract (and is something they could never imagine doing) it seems “impossible”. But to us and most women/femme appearing people, it’s a major part of life.

      1. Kendra*

        Yeah like why so much hate? It’s literally not ever cat calling, not that that’s better anyway. It’s like: I HATE YOU AND I WANT YOU TO NOT BE HERE.

    3. Myrin*

      The guy jumped in front of you two and yelled right in your face – who else could he probably have been adressing here?! I’m sorry, I’m sure your friend is a lovely person but man, that’s some impressive mental gymnastics here. :/

      1. Kendra*

        I know lol. He chalked it up to him being like some crazy person just yelling random things. I mean, he is, but I think he was implying schizophrenia or something. There was no one else he could’ve been talking to.

        1. AvonLady Barksdale*

          That’s not necessarily far off the mark. I live in an urban neighborhood where there is a ton of drug use and a bunch of tent cities a few blocks away. (Plus lots of police plus lots of fancy stuff, like Michelin-recommended restaurants.) When people yell things on the street, I generally ignore it because it’s certainly not about me. I’ve only been frightened once, very early in the morning, but the dog didn’t mind so chances are it was just random screaming.

    4. Orange You Glad*

      I hate when that happens – it’s common AND awful!

      For me, I re-read this book whenever a particularly upsetting incident occurs and it makes me feel like I’m not alone: “50 Stories About Stopping Street Harassers” by Holly Kearl

      I have it downloaded on the Kindle app on my phone so I can reference it whenever. I also really like that it opened my mind to several different ways to respond (when it’s safe to do so) so I don’t feel as powerless.

      Because really, that’s what street harassment is: a power play.

      It’s not a compliment or a request for genuine connection. It’s one person asserting power over another person in a public setting and using the social dynamics to dominate the encounter.

      I’m sorry that happened to you and that your friend wasn’t supportive.

        1. Jules the 3rd*

          Because they feel powerless in other situations, and can use the surprise / physical differences to briefly feel that jolt of power.

          I felt it once, and it was heady – I was teased a lot as a kid. After I broke up with my 1st boyfriend (at…13ish?), telling him ‘I wasn’t ready to date’, one guy who’d consistently teased me came up later that week and asked if I was ready now. Almost 40 years later and I can still remember the blissed out feeling of my perfect comeback (Why? Are you interested?). He retreated, flushing, I felt great.

          I suspect there’s a dopamine hit in it, but in most situations / for most people it’s cancelled by shame / pain of hurting another person. That shame is greatly reduced if the ‘other person’ is dehumanized in someone’s brain, by being a stranger, or a different demographic. There’s other ways to reduce the shame correction, eg, ‘girls like cat calling’.

          1. Kendra*

            When I wasn’t catcalled s few years ago it made me mad. I’d act like I was going to tear the guy apart. One guy almost fell off his bike. I scare the sh*t out of people. I screamed at them and let them know I’m going to murder them with my words. They were just baby cowards.

            That’s why I don’t get why people do it. Like if that’s the reaction they get, where they’re essentially about to pee themselves, does that really empower themselves?

            Nowadays I don’t react at all. Actually — it’s worse because they flip the f*** out because I don’t react! That’s when I get the screaming. I started wearing headphones when I walk, even if there’s nothing playing, mostly to avoid the aftermath of people screaming in my ear lol.

            Anyway…. it felt different than cat calling though. I see the similarities but it FEELS a lot more like, “I hate you’re here. Please leave.” Like they can’t bear to have someone like me existing nearby. It doesn’t feel like intimidation. It feels like they’re sad and hurt.

          2. Kendra*

            It feels like… people don’t want me here. I don’t feel very welcome in general so I think it’s just the vibe of the whole city.

          3. Kendra*

            Honestly it doesn’t feel like any of that is true about feeling more powerful. Because what I was cat called, I mean I took that theory, and for a period I would just be happy and excited. One guy yelled at me about my butt and I was like oh my gosh I know thanks! He asked me if it was Pilates and I told him genetics. He seemed like he was very validated by that experience, but I felt strange to encourage that behavior. He was not disappointed that I didn’t get scared. I guess that’s why this just yelling random stuff at me feels so different, because it does feel very hate-fueled toward my existing at all.

    5. Boomerang Girl*

      I remember a couple of weird incidents. I am very tall and one time I was walking in a parking lot with a shorter friend. A guy driving by rolled down his window and yelled, “Amazon!” And continued driving. I wasn’t sure what the point of that was.

      Another time, a guy I knew slightly drove in front of me when I was at a crosswalk and stopped to say hello. The teenagers in car with him made obscene gestures at me and plastered a drawing of male genitalia against the window. I honestly don’t know if they quickly drew it for my benefit or if they were driving around with it. (My acquaintance was pissed with them when he realized what was happening.)

      Neither was as scary as what you experienced, but I think the principle was the same. Some jackass was trying to exert his power through intimidation and throwing off your equilibrium. Sorry you have had that experience so many times.

  23. gift giving*

    My cleaning lady of many years is retiring and I would like to give her a gift but I’m stumped. Even though she’s been working for me for a while, I am rarely home when she’s working. Any ideas?

    1. fposte*

      I usually prefer non-cash gifts, but in this case cash is absolutely what I’d do. A cash gift equaling several days of her work if you can, a nice note about how much you’ve appreciated her help and your warm wishes in retirement, and a small box of chocolates or something similar if you still want to give something tangible.

      1. Anon time*

        Seconding! Definitely money. I like the idea of a small box of chocolates or a candle in addition.

    2. Seeking Second Childhood*

      A thought about cash… if you’re feeling it’s impersonal, put the cash inside something else that would be a memento. A coin purse, a jewelry box, a covered candy dish, etc. Make sure she knows to open the inside thing too.

    3. Lcsa99*

      A gift card for a house cleaning service! Joking.

      I would probably agree with the others and give her cash. If you usually do a holiday bonus, maybe twice that? And a note about how much you’ve appreciated her work.

  24. Digley Doowap*

    I just watched “Broken” on Netflix and the episode that really got me was the final episode on how the planet is drowning in plastics, recycled plastics.

    Sure, the other episodes on vaping, counterfeit cosmetics from China and how IKEA is destroying the world’s lumber resources so we can buy cheap throw-away furniture are alarming, the last episode on plastic recycling is most disturbing, especially now because China has a national ban on taking the world’s plastic recycling and how Malaysia is now a plastic waste repository for the world.

    So much plastic is dumped into the world’s oceans that microplastics (from plastic
    decomposition) are now found on every Continent. These microscopic particles are in the food chain and the air and water, which means they are in you and me and every living creature. The negative health effects are only just now being realized.

    The petrochemical companies convinced us that it was a recycling problem, rather then the over production of disposable plastics. What suckers we are, thinking that recycling was the key to environmental health and that dutifully separating the recyclables from the trash every week was the right thing to do.

    Really the only right thing you can do is throw that plastic in the trash for disposal in the landfill and then stop buying disposable plastic containers in the first place. But can we?

    1. Rebecca*

      I’d like to see some changes in our packaging, and I think a lot of the excess plastic has been added to deter theft and tampering! I bought a Chapstick today, and it was packed in a large plastic enclosure. I remember when I was younger just buying one at the checkout like you would a roll of mints, no extra packaging. I’d like to be able to buy liquid soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, conditioner, things like that, in bulk and reuse my containers. Even things like my prescription meds – would love to be able to reuse the same containers at the pharmacy, although I suspect there are probably at least a dozen laws that would prevent that. I suspect those sturdy laundry detergent jugs could last for years before needing to be recycled.

      I’d totally buy soda in glass bottles and take them back to the store. I truly think that plastic bottles of water need to be scaled way back, as in, I realize in emergencies it’s handy to have, but I use stainless steel water bottles and fill them from my own well water, no need to buy water, and I’ve used two of them for nearly 20 years now. I’ve gone to someone’s house for dinner, they have perfectly potable water from the tap and a fridge with water and ice, yet buy bottled water for convenience. Personally I think this is wasteful, but not my call to make.

      We need containers for things, and metal and glass can be used, but I’ve read that glass is more expensive to recycle than to make from scratch due to all the contaminants. For my part, I compost, recycle, and reuse as much as I can. I even save the paper bags I get at the feed mill when I buy apples or something that can easily just go into a reused bag so they don’t have to give me a new one.

      Part of this can be blamed on the jerks who tamper with food and meds, but part of the blame lays with us too, because we value convenience and ease of use over everything else.

      1. Grandma Mazur*

        I think your last point is particularly important, with the implication that we need to make people’s lives easier (eg, not need to work two jobs, worry about paying for healthcare, access to mental health resources, etc) so that people don’t feel they need the most convenient thing at the expense of the environment. If my regular supermarket can sell me cereals in my own refillable containers, great, but if I have to carry glass jars home on a bus that only goes every hour and I might miss it and have to walk? I’m probably going to choose the cardboard box… those might not be two completely compatible examples but what I’m getting at is that people will need to feel they have the physical energy and the brain space – the capacity – to tackle the environmental crisis in their own lives.

        1. That Girl from Quinn's House*

          Also we’d have to stop people from sticking their grubby hands (and letting their children stick their extra-grubby hands) in bulk bins.

          1. Rebecca*

            EWWW, yes!! That’s what gives me pause about bulk items, people touching them with their grubby hands. Yuck. If it could be in a strictly controlled way, like you had to push a lever, and some of the stuff goes through a tube into my container, fine, but I don’t want bulk items that are open to the public. This is why I don’t get salad bar items at the grocery store.

            1. Elizabeth West*

              Quite a few natural foods stores like Lucky’s Market have these. So did the local one in my old city.

      2. Seeking Second Childhood*

        I’m in one of the lucky areas with a good local soda company that does use glass bottles. Hosmer Mountain, since 1912. Yum.

    2. Miranda Priestly's Assistant*

      I haven’t seen that show but now I am intrigued. I actually have become very interested in reducing waste in the past few months, and have been trying to both reduce my overall consumption/reduce consumption of plastic. However, very little can be done at the end-user level. I’m still doing research on this, but I’m taking a lot of my cues from local environmental activists who are more informed on what would make a better impact. This includes lobbying larger buyers of plastics (like retailers and distributors) to choose paper and alternative packaging, and eventually regulating plastic production overall (which will be difficult, but effective.)

      1. Square Root Of Minus One*

        Indeed… plastic is everywhere, and honestly, where I live, to buy glass bottles or bulk on a regular basis, or even furniture away from Ikea, you need to be much wealthier than most.
        It’s also in textile, for that matter. A LOT of it. 75% of all textile produced is polyester alone… and there is no good answer on that one. We need clothes, a lot of cotton production is also questionable, wool as well given there is no guarantee it’s produced ethically… and good luck finding underwear with natural fibers.

    3. Sprechen Sie Talk?*

      IKEA is one of those Swedish paradoxes that pop up every now and then. Sure they are all about sustainable design (like the rest of the country) but not at THAT scale.

      In Sweden, however, they have recycling dialed to a level that is insane. In home your trash is sorted into (at least in partner’s county) eight different categories, with food waste separate. Paper, glass, different plastics (wrapping, containers, etc), batteries, etc. There is also a PET scheme where you pay a deposit on your plastic bottles and cans and get it back when you return them to the store. But the dump… man the dump is that writ large for even more categories of waste like plant and lawn clippings, lumber from home repairs, ceramics, and on and on, everything tidy and contained in separate ‘pens’. The social conditioning and stigmas mean that everyone does their part (maybe with a bit of grumbling, but they do it) and the government provides a clean and funded service. As a result you don’t see junk on the side of roadways, or in the water, or anywhere else it shouldn’t be and as much is recycled as possible.

      But, that is easy to do with a population of 9 million, doing that in a much larger country without a long, socially-ingrained environmental consciousness just isn’t going to happen. I do think there are ways to start easing people into more consideration of packaging, like with bulk options or PET schemes, but to get to a level that may be needed now is going to take generations of educating and government investment/support and I’m not sure a lot of countries are up to that task.

      1. Not So NewReader*

        Thanks for this interesting read.
        Our recycling is privately owned here.
        We don’t do recycling stations very well. I see that now. The bins are close together and if a wind comes along the plastic flies into the newspaper etc.

        The signs are old and refer to an older system that we had. People put ads in with the newspapers which is okay here, but then they just blend everything else also. This is because it’s too confusing with the old out of date signs.
        The recycling area used to have a baby sitter. Because, you know, adults can’t get it right. Now there is less and less staff so the customers do whatever.
        My county does not take electronics anymore and we have to drive 15 miles to the next station that will. Of course, this means people are back to having their own dumps. I diligently brought an old sewing machine over and drove an hour and a half all total. I am sure my car added all the pollution that I was trying to prevent.
        People watch the municipalities collect waste. They throw the recycling right in on top of the trash, same truck. Municipalities are bad, private collectors are worse. If you quit doing business with Big Garbage Company, it takes them years to come around and collect their cans. One friend had their cans for six years after quitting the service. I am not sure how they finally got rid of the cans.

        So far the plan seems to be increase the costs to throw things away. A 30 gallon bag of garbage costs just under $5 to get rid of. This has created a number of alternative solutions: build your own private dump; burn it; leave it along the side of the road; dump it on other people’s land at night; and sneak things in with recycling because no one is watching the bins at the center.
        I haven’t even started on the landlord stories. Short version, landlords pretty much ignore recycling services for their tenants entirely. It all goes in one bin.
        It’s gonna be a long road.

        1. KR*

          Your last point was such an issue for me where I used to live. The town had recycling pickup, but the apartment complex wouldn’t offer recycling. I called up the town and asked, “Can I pay a fee and get a dump permit so I can recycle?” No, I can’t do that and the dump is a closed dump so no drop offs allowed. Looking back, I should have gone to city council and asked if they would consider such a program.

          I think more people would recycle if it was easily available for them. Now where we live, we have recycling but the company is extremely picky. If your bin is overflowing (even with recyclable material like cardboard which frequently doesn’t fit all the way in the bin) they’ll dump the whole thing in the trash. I’ve watched them do it.
          I try to buy stuff with less packaging & not buy online as much but sometimes you just can’t find what you need in stores anymore. They don’t sell as much variety anymore because of online options. At a certain point you think, well if everyone else I doing it and the UPS truck is going to make the route anyway, why am I antagonizing over this.

          It’s so depressing. I want to live more sustainably but the right societal/infrastructure systems aren’t set up so I can’t reduce the most of my waste/pollution. Can’t buy certain things local that I should because the local option doesn’t exist or buying local would add more emissions because I’d have to drive everywhere instead of going to the grocery store. Can’t compost as I’m in a rental and can’t afford a house. Is it better to buy a hybrid now or drive my fuel sipping Civic until it dies? Who knows.

          1. KR*

            Note I work in renewable energy generation and I’m so fortunate to be able to do that. It funnels a lot of my environmental anxiety. But I still panic. We’re getting there on Renewable energy but it’s too little too late and considering the state of the US government regarding environmental policy … I worry.

          2. Digley Doowap*

            Why bother recycling if the plastic is ending up in the food chain and the oceans?

            Currently Malaysia is the only country taking in recyclables for the world and most of what they get is ending up being burned or in the ocean.

    4. KL*

      I’ve thought about this lately too! To change this would require the entire world changes the way it produces and consumes products, on such a scale that all governments would have to be involved with strict enforcement, and all nations working together. The sheer amount of organization, cooperation, and effort this would take is mind-boggling and rather sickening to even think about attempting. This… Just isn’t going to happen, especially when people are making big money with the way things are currently.

      I don’t believe we as consumers can change anything. Even if I went out of my way to live sustainably, it wouldn’t make a difference, especially considering most of the world’s population are in countries without the infrastructure. The only way I can see major change happening is when people are literally dropping dead in the self-inflicted synthetic plague that will wipe out a significant chunk of the world’s population. I’ll be dead long before then.

      That or the zombie apocalypse. Selling stuff is the last thing people in that scenario would be thinking about.

    5. Ann O.*

      This is hard because I think most of the changes that need to happen to prevent environmental apocalyptic scenarios need to happen above the level of consumer choices. But we’re so focused on consumer choices that we’re not building the networks to advocate.

      I’m trying to walk a balance between doing what I can and not taking on more than is in my power. So I’m avoiding single-use plastics when I can and looking for more reusable options, but I’m also not focusing too much on it. Likewise, I try to reduce my energy consumption, but I’m not making myself miserable by living in uncomfortably hot or uncomfortably cold. I’m mindful of fast fashion, but I don’t wear clothes that are falling apart.

      I think ultimately, we need technological solutions. Humans are too flawed, IMHO. Technology is the wild card that no one can truly predict.

    6. Lora*

      Short answer: no.

      All the things we need to do, such as the serious recycling a la Scandinavian countries and Singapore, switching to reusable containers, etc, we needed to start about 40+ years ago. And if it’s too hard for people working multiple jobs for crap money, relying on a very decayed public transportation system, well, how difficult do you reckon it will be for millions of displaced refugees? Whether due to a war for oil, war for water or regular gangster stuff like El Salvador, or even just economic refugees moving to countries that have a better quality of life, it will be extremely difficult to get anyone with the time and effort to spare for the work that needs to be done. When wages were effectively higher (relative to cost of living and inflation) more people had the capacity for doing this work. That’s not the case anymore.

      Technology…my fellow internet strangers, I work in technology. I did some time in the biofuels sector. Most of my colleagues from that time are now either in Big Pharma, grant writing/reviewing for the government, at some other start-up or in Big Energy/Oil. There is no money, not even a living wage, in developing these technologies. The people I know who stuck with it, at various other start-ups, have a partner who brings home the serious paycheck. Your other option is taking a vow of poverty and never being able to afford the reusable containers and stuff you know you should be doing. If you have student loans to pay off, forget it. Best case scenario for a startup trying to do green energy is, a very liberal government forces you to be the lowest bidder, which means you make just a smidgen above cost. Meanwhile you get to watch your friends in other industries go on multiple international vacations working for Raytheon or Boeing. Which would you choose? There’s just zero incentive for developing green technology when you can spend investors’ money on “the next (app of choice)”, fail, and get a six figure job in Silicon valley instead.

      I recycle and compost. I live in an affluent community that is extremely diligent about having staff help with the recycling sorting and making sure people dispose of things properly. We don’t ship out our landfill trash, it’s used within the state to shore up eroding coastline and whatnot. Food waste from local grocery stores and dairy cattle manure is put into methane digesters to produce electricity that goes back on the grid. I have a giant bundle of reusable tote bags and I pack lunches and drinks in reusable containers. I have a stupidly fuel efficient car and work from home as much as I can. Most of my clothes are natural fiber and if they’re too ragged for thrift store donation they get made into dustrags and patchwork quilts. Every lightbulb in my house is LED and the water heater is a fancy inline energy efficient thing; a geothermal heat pump is on the list of upgrades for the house. I’m doing what I can, with lots of resources all considered…and I still think we’re hosed. Because people are organisms on this Earth like any other.

      1. Koala dreams*

        Recycling was a new idea in Sweden 30 years ago. If you start now, maybe it will be mainstream where you live in 30 years time?

    7. Elizabeth West*

      They can make compostable plastic, but god forbid we should spend a little more money to keep from trashing the planet beyond livability. :P

      I do what I can to cut down on the amount I use and toss. I turn down plastic cutlery and keep straws and a spork in my purse. I bring my own bags to the store. I use dishes instead of buying paper plates (that was a tough one to stop). I buy vintage Tupperware and store food in that, and I’ve almost completely phased out plastic bags. My very eco-conscious friend made me some beeswax wraps. I love them and would like more.

      At least here, there is recycling; in my old city, there wasn’t. Other than putting people in charge who can and will do something about it, there’s not much else I can do.

  25. puffle*

    Hello all, I’m hoping for some book recommendations. I’ve just finished re-reading Naomi Novik’s amazing Temeraire series and I’m looking for something similar to read, specifically something fantasy, sci-fi or historical

    I prefer my fiction to be overall fairly light-hearted, I’m not fond of dark and grim or dystopian

    I’ve also fairly recently read and really enjoyed The Goblin Emperor, the Culture series and Swordheart if that helps

    Thank you!

    1. Ann Onny Muss*

      Have you read Clockwork Boys and The Wonder Engine? Same author and universe as Swordheart. (I’m on tenterhooks for the next book in the Swordheart trilogy to come out. Come on, Ursula–at least give us a release date!) Also, if you haven’t read Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, that’s probably up your literary alley.

    2. Lost in the Woods*

      I just finished the third book in Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series (series is maybe the wrong word, they’re loosely connected stories set in the same universe). They were a breath of fresh air in sci-fi for me.

      1. foxinabox*

        If you like Temeraire and Goblin Emperor, PLEASE read Sorcerer to the Crown and its sequel by Zen Cho. They’re regency fantasy with a big POC cast and a really cool magic system, plus while the main action in both takes place in England there’s also a lot based in Malaysia (the author’s two backgrounds) and they’re fun, plotty, with great characters and completely light on their feet.

    3. Laburnum*

      I LOVED the Temeraire series (and had totally not expected to when I picked up the first book).
      I suggest: The Tearling trilogy by Erika Johansen (first book is The Queen of the Tearling) — there are a few dark moments, but some of the magic here is unexpected and the plot has some interesting twists.

      The Tuesday Next books by Jasper Fforde are fun — first one is The Eyre Affair. Not historical,but lighter fantasy.
      same with Libriomancer by Jim Hines

    4. Claire (Scotland)*

      Seconding the recs for Ursula Verson’s other books, Terry Pratchett and the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers.

      I also strongly recommend Martha Wells. The Murderbot novellas are fab sci-fi and there’s a full novel coming next year. And I adore her Lady Astronaut series (alternate history sci-fi).

      If you like fantasy, Seanan McGuire is one of my absolute favourites. Her October Daye series is urban fantasy as is her Incryptid series (which is a bit lighter in tone). There’s also her series of portal fantasies, the Wayward Children novellas.

      1. Pam*

        The Lady Astronaut series is by Mary Robinette Kowal, who also has a series of Regency magic books, starting with Shades of Milk and Honey.

        1. Claire (Scotland)*

          Whoops, yes, thanks, looks like part of my post got deleted there in the middle when I was editing. Thanks for spotting! I was trying to rec the Glamourist Histories as well and lost the first part of the MKR stuff somehow.

    5. Jackalope*

      If you are okay with romance in your fantasy, I’ve enjoyed a lot of Sharon Shinn’s books. Her elemental blessings series and the series that started with Mystic and Rider are my favorites and they are light, with enough tension to make you interested but not super dark or grim. The one thing to know is that you really want to read them in order but the book numbers aren’t on the outside of the books. I ended up looking up the order on the author’s website. (Her shapeshifter series was also good but not as strong in my opinion.)

      Have you read Diana Wynne Jones? Her stuff is often fairly whimsical but good reading. A lot of it is considered Young Adult but I still enjoy it. My favorite is Robin McKinley who is also generally YA but I enjoy it a lot.

      I’m also a big fan of Elizabeth Moon’s Paksennarrion series. Read them in order; she has the original series written a few decades ago and then a follow-up series finished in 2014. Lois McMaster Bujold has some good stuff; I like The Curse of Chalion series and The Sharing Knife is also good and fairly light-hearted. Her sci-fi is good too but I’m less of a sci-fi fan so they leave me a bit cold.

      Anyway, hope that gives you some ideas and (if you’ve already read any of the above authors) an idea of what I like so you know whether it will mesh with yours.

      1. Fikly*

        Oh, man, Elizabeth Moon! I love her!

        I adore Bujold, but am the opposite – I love her Sci-Fi, the fantasy left me cold.

        Also, for Pratchett, Hogfather is seasonally appropriate right now, wherein Death acts as a last minute substitute for a Father Christmas equivalent.

    6. acmx*

      I actually couldn’t finish His Majesty’s Dragon but these are lighter fantasy:

      Marie Brennan’s Memoir’s of Lady Trent series? Starts with A Natural History of Dragons. It’s Victorian-esque but light on dragon lore.

      Heartstone series by Elle Katherine White. First book is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. (I’ve never read Jane Austen so can’t comment on how accurate/similar it is).

      The Tuesday Next books by Jasper Fforde – second this.

      Naomi Novik’s other books?

      1. CAA*

        Oh Thursday Next, I’d forgotten that series, and I did love it when it came out! The first one is “The Eyre Affair”.

    7. CAA*

      I loved Temeraire, though I don’t read a ton in that genre. My DH also liked it very much, and it’s one of the few series that we share. If you haven’t read Novik’s fairy tale books, “Uprooted” and “Spinning Silver”, do try those.

      If you like steampunk mixed into a light-weight fantasy, Gail Carriger’s books are a lot of fun. I’ve also enjoyed Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible Library series quite a lot.

    8. Dancing Otter*

      Have you tried the Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman? Parallel worlds, dragons, elves, steampunk… Four books so far, with The Invisible Library being the first. I have them as audiobooks from Audible.
      Also, a little younger targeted (The main characters are teen-agers, but their attitudes seem pretty grown-up for 16 or 17.), but with an original sort of plot, is the Raven series by Maggie Stiefvater. There’s a quest; there’s a villain; there’s a couple of varieties of magic; there’s a subplot concerning class distinction and privilege; it’s not just another version of the same old plot lines. Start with The Raven Boys.

    9. Loopy*

      HIGHLY recommend V.E. Schwab’s series a darker shade of magic series! Also, I’m weirdly excited this has brought out tons of people with similar book tastes, I don’t have many in real life and I’m seeing so many other books I love being mentioned! :)

    10. Grace*

      Temeraire was fantastic! Other Napoleonic-era fantasy is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell; fewer dragons, more magicians.

      Seconding all of Discworld – the Tiffany Aching books are YA-style, Hogfather is seasonally appropriate, Guards! Guards! has dragons. They’re all good starting points. Also seconding Becky Chambers’ Wayfarer Chronicles.

      Diana Wynne Jones’ stuff is technically for children, but come on – Howl’s Moving Castle is a must-read, and very different to the Ghibli film. Francis Hardinge’s stuff is also technically children/YA, but they’re damn good; I’m a big fan of The Lie Tree, which is set in the Victorian period.

    11. AcademiaNut*

      I can second most of these.

      Also – Debra Doyle and James D. MacDonalds Mageworlds series, for great space opera with a cast of delightful characters.

      Jodi Taylor’s St Mary’s series is great fun – disaster prone time travelling historians. It reads as quite light, in spite of the dire things that keep happening to the characters.

      Ben Aaranovich for urban fantasy – police procedural with magic set in modern London.

      I recently read and loved Theodora Goss’s Athena Club trilogy. Victorian London, and the main characters are the daughters/experiemental subjects of famous literary mad scientists (Mary Jekyll, Catherine Moreau, Justine Frankenstein, etc).

      Anything by Tanya Huff. She’s written military sci-fi, straight up fantasy, steam punk, and urban fantasy. The Blood Books are particularly good (urban fantasy with vampires), as is the straight fantasy Quarters series.

    12. Anono-me*

      I liked the Temeraire series at first, but as it progressed, it seemed to get darker. Eventually it became too heavy for me.
      That being said; Here are three fantasy authors that I like:

      ‘A Discovery of Witches’ by Deborah Harkness is a $1.99 ebook right now.

      Patricia Briggs has the Mercedes Briggs series. Right now #7 ‘Frost Burned’ is a $1.99 ebook right now.

      Ilona Andrews has several series. Her blog says the first Kate Andrews ‘Moon Called’ will be $1.99 12/1/19-12/15/19. (It is post dystopia but not as dark as most.)

      I also like Lois Mcmasters Bjold, Tanya Huff, Seanan McGuire and Sharon Shinn.

    13. Seeking Second Childhood*

      I wonder if we could talk Alison into setting up a shared reading list file somewhere, because what a list it would be!
      I’ll throw three to you that might hit your criteria. New to me fantasy fiction — The Emperor’s Edge series by Lindsay Buroker. Classic fantasy from the genre’s early days — Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser, by Fritz Lieber. Dragon magic in a variant modern world (witty, racy, and occasionally campy) — The Queen’s Wings series, by Jamie K. Schmidt.

    14. KL*

      Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. Six very flawed people are commissioned to break a scientist out of prison, fantasy style.

      Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Also fantasy, con-artist priest shenanigans gone horribly wrong.

      1. Lives in a shoe*

        Seconding the Bardugo books! Just the Crow series though, I wasn’t a huge fan of some of her other books.

    15. Ariaflame*

      The Liaden series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The first one Agent of Change and another fairly good jumping in point ‘Fledgling’ are on the Baen Free Library so you can try and see if it’s your cup of tea. Space Opera with good characters, some cats and occasional sentient turtles. Some interesting clash of cultures stuff.

      Also second the other recommendations of Pratchett’s Discworld and Bujold. Maybe the Rivers of London series by Aaronovich?

    16. Jen Erik*

      Lots of good suggestions – I’m looking forward to trying the ones I haven’t read.

      Adding in Zen Cho’s ‘Sorcerer to the Crown’ (Regency with bonus magicians) , and for Regency-esque dragons – genuinely all the major characters in the book are dragons – Jo Walton’s ‘Tooth and Claw’. If you haven’t read Bujold, and don’t mind reading series out of order, ‘A Civil Campaign’ is basically a sci-fi Regency Romance, and is a bit brilliant.
      I’m currently rereading Rosemary Kirstein’s ‘Steerswoman’ books which are not light-hearted per se, but are good-natured.
      ‘To say nothing of the dog’ by Connie Willis if you happen not to have read it – time travel romp with a nod to Jerome K . Jerome , and perhaps Megan Whalen Turner’s book ‘The Thief’ – don’t read reviews for that one, because you’ll fall over a spoiler for sure.

      1. Seeking Second Childhood*

        The Connie Willis you mention is one of my favorites. She’s so flipping versatile…that series spins from an inspirational war story to a tragedy to screwball comedy.
        Do start with the novella: “Firewatch” lays out a lot of ground rules for the universe. (And it’s a must-read for any science fiction fan visiting London.) I think “Doomsday Book” is optional to understanding the series, but others disagree with me.

    17. puffle*

      Thank you so much for all the fantastic recommendations, this will keep me busy for a long time! Really excited to check out all these books

  26. Quake Johnson*

    Does anyone have any experience with friends or family getting sucked into pyramid schemes? Did you do anything about it? Say anything to them? Say nothing and hope they figure it out quickly?

    1. Fikly*

      It’s nearly impossible to do anything to stop them/convince them otherwise unless you have power of attorney, sadly. People will believe what they want to believe, and they believe in pyramid schemes because they give them hope.

    2. eightytea*

      I would suggest joining the group “Sounds like MLM but ok” on Facebook. They have a lot of great resources for this sort of thing!

    3. WS*

      Sort of! I managed to convince my aunt that she shouldn’t invest more than her current income in a pet product MLM because what if something happened further up the supply chain, like a factory burned down? It wouldn’t be anyone’s fault, but you still would need that money to live on. (My parents had tried to convince her not to put any money into it, but by then they had all become her best friends and would never lie to her, so she was starting to drop out of contact with my parents because of this MLM cult.)

      She did not take out a loan or take more out of her (nearly paid off) mortgage as the MLM people had suggested, and while she now has no savings, she still has retirement money and never missed a mortgage payment. Unfortunately, she still seems to think that the next one will work out, but at least we don’t have to worry that she’ll lose her home.

    4. Lemonish*

      I highly recommend listening the podcast “The Dream” (and maybe then also recommending that they listen to it).

      “The Dream” does a great job outlining how MLMs convince people and keep them hooked.

  27. walrusandsonscrochet*

    *Beams the crafting signal into the sky* Anyone here who has started a small crafting business on the side? I’ve been making amigurumi (crocheted toys and decorations) to sell at a small local craft fair, and this year I’ve decided to start doing more fairs and actually try to make my social media not suck, although it’s not my forte. It’s really just for fun, not something I’m trying to make real money from.

    Anyone have tips to share about craft fairs, navigating the terrain of social media, or general tips about starting a low-key business? I might eventually start selling online too, but I’m keeping it small for the moment. My instagram handle is the same as my username here if you’d like to see what kind of stuff I’m making, but I just started it last week, so it’s still pretty small.

    1. Bob*

      I’m not at all crafty but I had coffee this morning with a friend after reading your post. She makes jewellery and sells it at craft fairs so I asked her advice.

      She likes to take a long a friend when she has a stall at craft fairs. In the beginning this was more for emotional support and, when the fair was quiet, it also gave her the chance to go and have a chat with other stall holders. She picked up tips from them (like which craft fairs are the best for her sort of jewellery) and that built a sense of community. As things got busier for her business she she found the travel time (sharing a car with a friend) to/from different fairs to be a rare opportunity to socialise!

      As for social media: in your position I’d identify my most social media-savvy friend and buy them a coffee in exchange for all the tips.

      You could also look for common themes among your favourite instagram sites. Obviously you’ll want to stay true to your own aesthetic but maybe there will be common themes on framing/lighting/colours etc and/or common hashtags which will get people on to your site.

      I hope this helps! Good luck in your endeavours from a random internet stranger.

    2. HBJ*

      You probably should look into your city, county, borough, state laws just to be familiar with what you might need there. A lot of times, craft fair/occasional businesses like that are excluded from sales tax and business license requirements, but it’s good to check just in case.

  28. Myrin*

    Little Thing of the Week:

    The light above my train stations sole ticket machine has been busted for months now. It wasn’t that noticeable when it was still light out even as early as I get there to get to work (quarter to or quarter past six, depending on which day it is) but it’s been abominable for the last few weeks (the machine is in a little nook halfway inside the station building and around the corner from the actual rail track so the light from there doesn’t reach it in any way, shape, or form; seeing if you’ve got the right amount of money at hand was a catastrophe).
    I kept being annoyed by it and then promptly forgetting as soon as I moved on from the machine and I also heard others grumble about it but apparently no one ever thought of doing anything about it.

    So I took matters into my own hands and told a conductress making her rounds about it and asked if there’s anyone I can call to alert them to this. And she immediately got out her little ticket-scanny-machine-thingy and typed something and said no, she’ll be letting the appropriate people know about this posthaste. That was on Tuesday. This morning, when I arrived at the station, the ticket machine was basked in light again in the exact same way it used to be.

    Be the change you want to see in the world, people!

    1. Colette*

      Good for you! As the kind of crank who calls the city to let them know stop light bulbs are burnt out, I know how satisfying it is to see the problem that’s been bugging you for weeks finally get resolved!

      1. Ariaflame*

        So many of these problems seem to have SEP fields around them (Someone Else’s Problem) and it really takes so little to bring them to the attention of someone who can do something about it. I just got a whole heap of lights replaced at work by remembering to contact the facilities people.

  29. Deserving porcupine*

    My family really wants to get a dog for/around Christmas, and I do too, but we’re worried about the time constraints of a new pet. I think I’ve convinced them out of a puppy, but even if we adopt a 1-2 year old, what kind of time ought we to put in before we all go off to full time work and school? We’ll be home for a week and a half over the holidays, but then we have jobs/ school that will keep us away from 8-5:30 every day, and I don’t want to adopt a pet just to abandon them before they’re comfortable in the house. Advice?

    1. ThatGirl*

      When we adopted our adult dog, the first couple days I worked from home half days to make sure he was adjusting, then my husband was off for a few days, just to get a routine down. I think as long as you establish a routine pretty quickly for eating, walks, etc 10 days or so should be fine. You may want to consider a crate or a closed off area too if the dog has any adjustment anxiety.

    2. Alice*

      I’ve adopted three dogs past puppyhood stage. Two had some kind of issue – not huge problems, but things to work around.
      One had been found by the side of the highway. For the rest of his life, he chased pickup trucks. Perfect recall otherwise, but that limited our off-leash excursions.
      Another was born in a shelter and lived in the shelter for a year before we adopted her (from a different shelter; she had been shipped to our region). They said she was house-trained; she wasn’t. Even more challenging long-term, she hadn’t been well socialized during that year. We did six months of group training classes at the big local animal hospital, but she’s still pretty reactive with big dogs, and has terrible recall. We can mostly work around these issues but I preferred having better trained dogs.
      I’m not saying not to adopt an older dog! But in my experience there are some puppyhood experiences (or lack of experiences) that you can’t really make up for later.

    3. Spoons please*

      An older dog can hang out for the day, but please talk about the commitment of playing and exercising and training the dog every day, after work/school. It may be easier if you can distribute the evenings among you, but the reality of not going to the gym, not having time to run errands after work, etc catches many people off guard. The dog doesn’t care if it’s raining or cold or if you had a rough day- down time needs to come second to taking care of the dog.

    4. CoffeeforLife*

      Even a 1-2 year old is still mentally a puppy and may require potty training, exercise, stimulation. Breed and dog (they are all different!) dependent though. Look into doggy day care, pet walkers, etc. Are you crate training? We have an old dog who is fine alone in the house but we also foster dogs and crate train them (all of the foster dogs have enjoyed their little den and it’s a good place where they get treats, it’s not for punishment or isolation).

      Enjoy the new family member!

    5. AvonLady Barksdale*

      I went to work a few days after we adopted our bud, who was 2 1/2 at the time. We had a walker who walked our neighbor’s dog, and that was a godsend. We established a routine very early on: I did the morning walk, walker came in the afternoon, whoever got home first took him out right away. He was also crated for the first few months– he came crate-trained and he loved his crate– until we figured out we could trust him. A few months later we started once a week doggy daycare.

      The most important thing was to pay extra close attention in those first few days. They were tough and tiring, but we learned his habits pretty quickly and figured out what we needed to work on. He’s 9 now and sometimes he’s a jerk but he’s the best buddy.

    6. TheFacelessOldWomanWhoSecretlyLivesinYour House*

      First, find a pet sitter or doggy day care to walk dog in the afternoon. (Or have someone come home on the lunch break?) I always hesitate when people say they want a pet for Christmas/holidays. House is hectic, people go in and out and it’s a lot of stress. A one-two year old dog is prime full pf energy, so exercise in the AM, lunch, and PM. Have everything set up before dog gets home and make sure you have researched the breed(s). A Border Collie or Belgian Malinois would be absolutely frustrated at your schedule without oodles of exercise, play time, and puzzles for home , Good luck!

    7. Loopy*

      I adopted a two year old dog and went back to work fairly soon but someone else was in the house while I was away. My dog had a LOT of energy even at 2 and stayed pretty energetic for years. Fortunately I could commit time to long walks after work and on weekends. Definitely look into differing energy levels of breeds.

      I usually try not to keep the dog inside more than 9 hours as a maximum so I’d seriously consider a dog walker or doggy daycare.

      Keep in mind you wont be as flexible with after work plans/errands if you don’t have a dog walker come.That still is an obstacle for me and I have had my dog for going on 8 years now. If dog is alone from 8-5:30 you probably need someone to be going straight home to walk if you don’t have a regular dog walker. That being said, I’ve happily been a dog owner and would never go back, despite the time commitment. Often the exercise with dog can be a fun outing somewhere or a wonderful way to get fresh air and sun! I definitely hope I didn’t make it sound like too much of a burden! I love my walks!

    8. Lucette Kensack*

      That should be plenty of time to get the pup settled. You’ll want to start giving her time alone in the house, in increasing amounts, before you go for the full day.

      8 – 5:30 is likely to be too long to be left alone without a bathroom break for most dogs, so you’ll need to hire a dog walker or arrange for someone to stop home over lunch to, at a minimum, let the dog do her business.

    9. Seeking Second Childhood*

      Consider climate & your intended toilet trsining. If you want to train him to use one spot in the yard for pee&poo, someone is going to have to stay out there with him every time until he goes where you want before you go for a walk. Not a great cold-weather activity.
      But delightf for not stepping in it lster.

    10. Managing to get by*

      Adopting a dog that is at least a year old is a much better idea than a puppy if you’re not able to be home with him/her for at least the first several months. A good rule of thumb is a dog can “hold it” for one hour per month of age, up to about a year old, then they can hold it for 10-12 hours in a row until they become senior and the time period decreases.

      While you are home around the holidays, be sure to leave the dog along for shorter periods of time before you go back to work, so they get used to you leaving and returning.

      A dog under 2-3 years of age will still be a bit of a chewer. Be sure to have a clear place you can leave them when you go to work, without things that they could get in trouble by destroying. Also be sure they have plenty of chew toys as chewing helps calm anxiety, even for older dogs.

      Luckily I get to work from home 2-3 days per week. My dogs stay in my mudroom/laundry room on the days I have to go to the office, and I’m gone about 9 hours on average. I’ve dog-proofed it and they have plenty of chew toys, comfy beds and access to water. If I have a particularly long day I have a couple of friends who can stop by and let them out mid-day. Even so, one of my older dogs will pee in the corner on occasion. It’s truly an accident, and I just clean it up without making a big deal out of it. It’s part of having dogs and working full time.

      Don’t forget the dog will need some activity in the morning, at least a 15-20 min walk, as well as after work. I have small acreage with horses and mine follow me around for 20 mins while I do horse chores then we throw the ball for 10 mins or so before going back in the house for breakfast.

  30. Freezing unbaked pies*

    Thank you all so much for your advice last week about making a cherry pie and freezing it. The technique worked perfectly – I filled and covered the pie and crimped the edges, froze it very well-wrapped, and baked it on the bottom rack of a 425° oven directly from the freezer. All you have to do before baking is glaze the top and cut vent holes. It came out crisp and fresh-tasting.

    Hope you all had a great holiday, and thanks again for your help last week.

  31. Friendless (but not totally)*

    I’ve never been good with making friends, or at least close friends. I’ve been struggling with bullying in my teens and depression later in life, I’m an only child and I don’t relate well to people. Which is okay, most of the time.

    After uni and grad school most of the friends I did have moved away or I moved away and as these things go we lost touch. Where I live now, which is town I grew up in, either my cohort is missing or they’re people I don’t care to get back in touch with. I’m not very good at making friends, always have been; I lack the temperament for community things and the patience for people in general, and the depression makes everything harder on top. I have daily contact with people, on my commute and at work and with my parents (my family is just me and my parents), and at the end of the day I feel drained of People Things and on the weekend I just need to recharge to do People Things the next week.

    I do have friends, but most of them are either online (which means I get to dictate when and how much to interact, within reason and depending on how much they want to, of course), or one of us has to travel to see the other and then I’m happy to spend THE WHOLE DAY with them, but that happens maybe once or twice a year because travel and then, because I have issues relating to people, I think they’re pretty done with me for the next few months anyway (we text when we don’t see each other).

    I’m okay doing stuff by myself; I go to cafes and restaurants and museums and the zoo by myself and I don’t mind at all, actually am even grateful for being by myself most of the time. I go through periods when I crave having friends closer and would like to go have a drink (I don’t go to bars by myself, that doesn’t feel safe) and just shoot the sh*t for an evening, but that’s the trade off for having my peace the rest of the time and no obligations to someone. (I don’t have a partner, don’t want a partner, and have no desire to have children.)

    I’m just leaving this here, because right now I need to say this to someone and I have no one to say this to, because I know people I know will judge me for it.

    1. Colette*

      It sounds like you’re happy with your life as it is, so you’re doing great!

      I will say that there is a benefit in having people close by who can be physically present when you need them – when I broke my leg, life would have been very difficult without geographically close friends. But that may not be a good enough reason to change your life, and there’s no guarantee that friends will be available when you need them anyway.

      1. Friendless (but not totally)*

        Yes, and this is the part where I wish I had friends closer to me, because who do you call if you have a really bad flu and need groceries. Or, heck, if you just need to vent.

        Well, but you’re right: the same way with family, you won’t know if anyone would be there.

    2. Washi*

      One thing I will say is that if you do make a connection with someone, I’ve found it’s easier to keep it casual and low-contact than trying to make a really close friend. So if you find someone you click with, having a drink once every month or two and nothing more is quite normal for a casual adult friendship.

      Sounds like you’re happy with the way things are, but just a thought that the obligations of friendship don’t have to be overwhelming.

      1. Friendless (but not totally)*

        No, I’ve never really had super close friends (I…may have thought I did, but I was definitely mistaken) anyway. The going and finding someone I click with part (‘putting myself out there’) is hard. I’m doing reasonably well with People Things. Usually.

        I’m reasonably content with my life most of the time. :) But sometimes it would be nice to have those low key connections.

        Thanks!

    3. Pam*

      I’m much the same, I work with university students, but like to come home to quiet. I have a handful of friends from high school, and a lot of casual acquaintances. That’s enough for me.

    4. LPUK*

      I am in a similar position in that I am single, live alone, have never wanted kids and am not interested in having a partner. I actually enjoy living alone and am pretty self – sufficient. Like you my friends are mostly some distance away, and I see / contact them fairly infrequently, but we always enjoy it when we get together. I do have my sister quite near me now, and one thing we have started doing is to join a cinema club and watch a film together each week. It’s just enough contact! For many years I travelled for work, which is why my friends are not local, but now that I am older and working from home, I have started trying to develop friends ( or at least friendly relations ) with some of my neighbours, so that I have someone to call on for help if necessary (one of the few downsides to living alone is who to contact in an emergency). We aren’t hugely close but we go to the pub for a drink every so often, and plan dinner together every couple of months. It’s nice, low intensity contact that suits me and them.

      I think there are more people like us, quietly and contentedly getting on with our lives, than we may think: it’s just not talked about. Ive tried, but people jump in to reassure me that I won’t be alone forever ( I certainly plan to be!) as if I’ve presented them with a problem to fix, instead of just having a conversation about different ways to live your life. Glad to hear from another contented Singleton!

      1. Friendless (but not totally)*

        I like that term!

        Oh yes, the “you’ll find someone” and “children can still happen” encouragements. Like, I really hope not?

        I plan to move again in the next perhaps 2 years, perhaps then I can build that kind of relationship also with my neighbours. Or join a book club. Where I am now, no; I’ve known too many people in this town for most of my life, there are some bad blood family complications from the generation before mine.

        But thanks for sharing! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who might be a little weird to others.

        1. LPUK*

          Here’s another one. I had just joined my last company and was sitting in a meeting with other newbies learning about benefits. HR lady was talking about life insurance and healthcare for dependents, so I piped up ‘ and what about those of us that are joyfully unencumbered?’. No answer.

    5. Dancing Otter*

      I’m fairly solitary myself — another only child! — but I have joined a couple of groups based on my hobbies and interests. They didn’t result in close friendships, but there’s a certain level of casual camaraderie that I find I enjoy.
      I don’t know what your interests are, but a book club sounds like a good place to start. Adult Ed classes, such as cooking or crochet or whatever, can also be a good low-risk source of connections; and you might discover that you really enjoy the subject of the class.

      1. Ariaflame*

        It doesn’t really matter what the activity is, provided you enjoy it. For me it’s board-gaming where I see some friends twice a month, and go to a large club twice a month (I’m currently the vice-chair of that group). The trick is to find something you are interested in, and find somewhere or some group who are also interested and not to push too much towards making a Friend, but to make acquaintances and see what develops.

  32. Myrin*

    Warning for discussion of medical stuff (not graphic).

    I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it on here but I’ve been feeling a burning sensation on my tongue for months now. It’s always there but gets worse whenever I eat anything at all.

    I’ve been to all kinds of doctors until my ENT said I might have a vitamin B deficiency – which is apparently something that happens a lot with people who got their gallbladder out, which I did in April – which causes tongue burning. Thinking I’d finally found a solution, I happily started taking the pills he prescribed but it… didn’t really get better. Like, it kinda did, sometimes, but also not really?

    So I finally got an appointment with a gastroenterologist on Wednesday, mostly because by now I was sure that I must have some kind of elusive allergy (to the act of eating, apprently?!). We had a pretty comprehensive talk and you could tell that she somehow doubted the existence of any allergies but she took my blood regardless (and I’ll be having a gastroscopy on Wednesday in two weeks which I honestly can barely wait for because I keep having weird, irregular intestines stuff and I think it will be nothing but I want there to be proof of nothing).

    And then she called me on Thursday afternoon, saying they don’t have all the results yet (and I’m not quite sure if that includes the allergy testing or not) but what they already do know is that my vitamin B is fine but that I have an astounding lack of folic acid. I honestly didn’t think clearly in the moment because I neither asked if she can tell where this is coming from so suddenly (although I guess it might have to do with my missing gallbladder? I’ve had liver stuff since I was a teenager, which influences the body’s folic acid levels) nor if there’s anything I can do about it permanently. I will do that when she calls next week with the remaining results, though, fear not! In the meantime, she sent me a receipt which lets me get folic acid pills on Monday and I’m really eager to find out if that horrible feeling will finally go away!

    (A little searching online tells me that these are pills specifically for cases where the folic acid deficiency can’t be repaired “through dietary means”. I don’t know how she knows that I eat and drink tons of milk and milk products and wheat and legumes, which are apparently the main sources for folic acid, but it seems like she did. Another symptom, by the by, is trouble concentrating and I will attempt a somersault in happiness if this freaking thing is actually the reason why I’ve been having the crappiest memory for like two months now. I’ve lamented to my family how my previously infallible memory suddenly seems to have gone down the drain completely with me entirely forgetting whole conversations and situations, which has never happened to me before in my life and in fact, is something I’ve always been astoundingly good at. Let’s see where this all goes.)

    1. Bluebell*

      I think that “burning mouth syndrome” is a thing. Someone I used to work with is now suffering from it, and She just chews gum all the time to deal with it. I heard from someone else that she is going to try and travel to a specialist. Sorry to hear you are suffering with it, and maybe your doctors can figure something out.

      1. tangerineRose*

        I’m not a doctor, and feel free to ignore this, but when I’ve had pain in my mouth, sometimes gargling with a mixture of white vinegar and water (mostly water) or with a mixture of salt and mostly water helps. Not sure if this will help in your case at all, but I don’t think it would hurt. And as awful as vinegar tastes, even well diluted in water, having pain go away has been worth it for me. Hope you feel better soon!

        1. Auntie Social*

          I apply non-citrus yogurt (strawberry, for example) to my tongue and lips when they’re sore. Really slather it on. The relief is instant, and works better than anything my dermatologist or dentist has prescribed.

      2. Myrin*

        I’ve considered that as well, but seeing as my ailment – a burning tongue – is a symptom of something I evidently have – a folic acid deficiency – I’m for now going forward under the assumption that they’re related. Thankfully, it’ll be pretty easy to figure out once I take the new supplements!

        1. Not a doctor*

          Hoping that is the solution for you. But if that doesn’t fix it, I also had burning mouth syndrome for six months without a vitamin deficiency or other obvious cause. The doctor I saw suggested a very low-tech intervention that helped me get rid of it, diluting a drop of Tabasco sauce in a shot glass of water and swishing it in your mouth (and spitting out). You increase the number of drops of Tabasco sauce over time – you are basically desensitizing yourself.

    2. Fikly*

      Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause the weirdest, most obscure symptoms! I have Celiac, so have the tendency to develop random malabsorption issues.

      A couple of years ago, I stopped being able to taste salt. And not just salted food – I could literally put a pinch of salt in my mouth and it would taste like nothing. Bacon was the saddest experience. I went to my doctor and told them to test me for every vitamin and mineral level under the sun.

      18 tubes of blood later, it turned out I had a massive zinc deficiency. I started taking a zinc supplement every day, and lo and behold, I could taste salt again! After a few months, I tried stopping, but then lost salt again, so I just take it regularly and am resigned to it.

      I hope this fixes it for you!

    3. Thankful for AAM*

      Being picky here, but folic acid is the synthesized version of folate. Folate is B9 so you actually do have a vitamin B deficiency. Leafy greens are the best source of folate.

      The Mayo Clinic has a great page on folate.

      1. Myrin*

        Oh, I know that – the doctor meant B1, 6, and 12, which the pills I take at the moment pertain to.

    4. OyHiOh*

      Weird allergy possiblities include “oral pollen allergy” which causes mouth and/or airway symptoms in reaction to pollens on the skins of raw vegetables/fruits. Root vegetables and greens generally don’t cause symptoms but most other produce needs to be cooked to eliminate symptoms.

      I get oral reactions to citrus oils and any scents that are derived from citrus oils. The edges of my tongue swell/feel tingly/burning. Finding cleaning products that don’t make my mouth hurt is a fun time.

      I really hope that yours turns out to be a deficiency of some sort. Much easier to deal with with some simple supplementation!

      1. Seeking Second Childhood*

        I have a similar (but slower) reaction to fresh black pepper. It sort of feels like I burned my mouth. Usually hits by morning if I use fresh pepper at dinner.

    5. Observer*

      Yup, This could be the issue.

      Here is what the NHS says – it’s a really nice list:

      Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia can cause a wide range of symptoms. These usually develop gradually, but can worsen if the condition goes untreated.

      Anaemia is where you have fewer red blood cells than normal or you have an abnormally low amount of a substance called haemoglobin in each red blood cell.

      General symptoms of anaemia may include:

      extreme tiredness (fatigue)
      lack of energy (lethargy)
      breathlessness
      feeling faint
      headaches
      pale skin
      noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
      hearing sounds coming from inside the body, rather than from an outside source (tinnitus)
      loss of appetite and weight loss

      Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

      If you have anaemia caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency, you may have other symptoms, such as:

      a pale yellow tinge to your skin
      a sore and red tongue (glossitis)
      mouth ulcers
      pins and needles (paraesthesia)
      changes in the way that you walk and move around
      disturbed vision
      irritability
      depression
      changes in the way you think, feel and behave
      a decline in your mental abilities, such as memory, understanding and judgement (dementia)

      Some of these symptoms can also happen in people who have a vitamin B12 deficiency but have not developed anaemia.
      Symptoms of folate deficiency

      Additional symptoms in people with anaemia caused by a folate deficiency can include:

      symptoms related to anaemia
      reduced sense of taste
      diarrhoea
      numbness and tingling in the feet and hands
      muscle weakness
      depression

  33. Holly*

    Is anyone here is seeing the touring version of Les Mis? I didn’t see it in New York because I heard it was badly miscast and that kind of ruined the show. But I don’t know if this is the same cast or if it’s improved at all since.

    1. SophieChotek*

      I have not seen the recent touring version of Les Miz.
      I looked at the cast list and I don’t think I’ve seen anyone in the current touring cast (or at least no one that I am like “oh yeah I saw So-and-So and they were good.”)
      I saw Les Miz 2x on tour (before 2002), 1x in London at the Palace, as well as the NY Revival…
      I’ve enjoyed it every time, but I hear ya, how a miscasting can ruin a show…

    2. Llellayena*

      Oh yes, miscasting can be the death of a good show! As evidence the recent Les Mis movie…

      I haven’t seen the latest tour but I also hadn’t heard about the miscasting. I would love to see it again though! It’s my favorite! (…starts humming Empty Chairs…)

    3. kz*

      I actually just saw the touring version in Pittsburgh and thought it was fantastic! No idea if they’ve changed the cast since NY or what.

  34. Miranda Priestly's Assistant*

    My dating life has sort of disappeared for the last 2-3 years and I’m not sure what happened! I was dealing with some family and health issues at the beginning of it, but now I feel like I forgot how to meet people.

    When I was in college and graduate school, it was really easy to meet people through other friends and classmates. However, now, I realize that none of my existing friends know anyone I could potentially date, so I just have not been meeting anyone. I’ve tried online dating, but it sucks, and the idea of looking at another stupid Bumble profile fills me with dread. Also, all the guys I’ve met through OK Cupid have been some the worst guys I’ve ever met! Strangely, Tinder has been a better experience in the past, but not what I’m looking for right now.

    Currently, I’m looking for various social events I can potentially do this month and once the new year starts. Anyone else have any suggestions?

    1. Jackalope*

      Do you have a Meetup in your area? I found that to be super helpful, although I live in a large metropolitan area so smaller places might not work. That’s what I did for avoiding online dating but still keeping myself out there.

    2. NoLongerYoung*

      I will mention volunteering. One of my friends met her spouse through the conservation / tree planting/ group here. For her, it was the draw of the outdoors, and doing something physical and good for the world… he was a bonus.

      Then, even if you don’t meet someone there, you have done something you did enjoy… and are happier with possibly other new friends, just not dating. (that’s where she started with it).

  35. Teapot Translator*

    I am feeling very anxious about stuff we don’t talk about here. I can feel the paralysis/procrastination coming on. What works for you to calm down the anxiety enough to do what you have to do? I need to eat and figure out what I’m going to cook for the week and my brain is going nope, don’t wanna.

    1. Sprechen Sie Talk?*

      Whats the smallest step you can take to move forward? Figure that out, do it, and then see if you want to do more.

      Alternatively, I like the timed method where I give myself 15 minutes to start on it. If I want to continue then I do or if I dont feel like it then I stop.

      1. lasslisa*

        This works for me too – and I mean *smallest step*. “Get out the book I’m supposed to write a report on.” Then once it’s in my hands, well, might as well read a sentence or two…

        Or if I don’t know where to start, the task becomes to figure out where to start – like, “check library catalog for books about the topic” or “write down a list of different topics I could write about”. Writing stuff down helps me not get caught in mental loops, too.

  36. Alice*

    Bad sign or just a mistake?

    A real estate agent was highly recomnded to me by a friend. I called, nice chat. I followed up by email with times and locations that work for me to meet. He replies having read the times but naming a location 25 minutes away from any of the ones I gave.

    Picking up on details is important for a realtor, no?

    1. Brandee*

      I’m being generous here, but perhaps the times only work at the location the agent gave? Eg s/he has a showing that would preclude meeting you at your time/location?

    2. Blue Eagle*

      When we contacted the real estate agent, she asked when and where we wanted to meet and she was there. And she returned phone call extremely promptly (because obviously she can’t take a call when with another client). If the agent can’t or won’t meet at your convenience, then can you really trust that they will put your needs to the top of the pile?

      If you want to give them one more chance, I would take Brandee’s advise and contact them again saying where you would like to meet and give them a couple of times to see if they respond favorably – – otherwise red flag.

    3. Lucette Kensack*

      Agents are a dime a dozen. You want someone who is going to prioritize your needs. You could check with your friend to hear about how responsive she was to them, otherwise I’d seek out other agents and move on.

  37. Elspeth Mcgillicuddy*

    If you like lighthearted, have you tried any Dianna Wynne Jones? It’s actually mostly children’s novels, but definitely good enough for adults to read. Castle in the Air is particularly excellent.

  38. Lost in the Woods*

    Any good nonfiction recommendations? Preferably something not too bleak, since we’re heading into the worst month of the year for my highly seasonal depression!

    I just finished Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen, and it was a fascinating if deeply concerning look at the many interlocking issues surrounding water use and conservation in the western US. It was a much more accessible intro to the topic than Cadillac Desert, which I’ve tried and failed to read before.

    1. Lady Jay*

      I read Scott Jurek’s North about a year ago–great book about his FKT (fastest-known time) record on the Appalachian Trail. He ran the whole thing in 46 days (!). While the record has since been broken (!!), it’s a great read, especially if you’re interested in outdoorsy / running / memoir type works.

    2. Laburnum*

      For a very interesting read, that is beautifully written — The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. It’s short and a nice “lift” in the time of bleak weather.

      And, I’d say just about anything by Michael Perry, who writes both nonfiction and essays — his personal style of storytelling is something that resonates with a lot of readers. I suggest Truck: A Love Story — or Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting.

      1. Nerdgal*

        Salt by Mark Kurlansky is a great book. Also, A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived by Adam Rutherford.

    3. Boozhoo*

      Not a new release, but I just read The Elephant Whisperer (2012) by Lawrence Anthony and it is so great.

    4. Fellow Traveler*

      I just read Between the Desert and the Sea by Michael Scott Moore and really enjoyed it. It’s a memoir about the authot’s time being captured by Somali Pirates. It’s surprisingly funny and uplifting.

    5. Fikly*

      Memories of Silk and Straw: A Self-Portrait of Small Town Japan, by Junichi Saga.

      You’re going to want the kindle edition, if you can’t get it in print (which is hard to do, it’s out of print).

      This is an amazing book. It’s transcribed oral histories that were taken by the local doctor in a small town in Japan, outside of Tokyo, while visiting the elderly population in the 1970s to deliver care. It’s essentially the story of the massive change that Japan went through from 1890 through roughly 1930ish, told through the eyes of the people (of all social classes) in this small village.

    6. OyHiOh*

      I found For All the Tea in China to be a facinating, easy read tracing the . . . . let’s call it what it was, industrial espienage and theft of tea plants from China to plant in India.

    7. Seeking Second Childhood*

      I’m rereading Studs Terkel “The Good War”, oral history of WWII collected from dozens of interviewees.
      On my Christmas wishlist is “Mudlark: In Search of London’s Past Along the River Thames” by Lara Maiklem, whose Facebook page I have followed for longer than this blog.

    8. Aphrodite*

      Most of my books are in (temporary) storage for the moment but given what you just finished I think you might really enjoy any of Simon Winchester’s books. He’s a fantastic writer. I love all this books, but particularly enjoyed Krakatoa.

    9. Queer Earthling*

      Bill Bryson is generally my go-to for fun nonfiction. A Short History of Nearly Everything and A Walk in the Woods are probably his best known ones, but my favorite is At Home, which explored the history of the everyday and mundane objects and customs we have. It’s got a very dry humor to it–my spouse found it a little dull, but I find it hilarious and informative.

      1. Teach*

        He has a new book! Very much like “At Home” but about the human body. I just bought it for DH for Christmas, but I am tempted to stealth read it in the closet.

    10. Red Reader the Adulting Fairy*

      My taste in nonfiction runs to memoirs/bios, medical and true crime – I just finished a biography of Barbara Bush, by Susan Page, which was really interesting (and the opposite of bleak, to boot). Amaryllis Fox “Life Undercover” (recently suggested by Alison), same thing.

    11. runner*

      If you are interested in running, I’m reading 26 Marathons by Meb Keflezighi. It’s a cool story about each marathon he completed and some great life lessons.

  39. WellRed*

    I’d like to apologize for recommending Christmas with the Kranks for a holiday movie list last week. Saw it last night. Laughed a few times but so so stupid. Guess I am really not a Tim Allen fan : )

    1. KarenK*

      I recommend the book it’s based on, Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. But, yeah, the movie is terrible, probably due to Tim Allen.

      1. WellRed*

        I’ve been in a total Grisham kick which is why I had the movie on my list. Totally Tim Allen’s fault.

    2. Elizabeth West*

      He is funny in the Santa Clause movies, but I dislike him as a person so I think I may ditch my DVDs.

    1. Desperately seeking cute kitty*

      Thanks for reminding me what that cat’s name is! I remember Olive, Eve and Wallace’s names but keep forgetting Sophie’s. :(

  40. FaintlyMacabre*

    I miss the Billfold! For lots of reasons, but especially the monthly check-in. I think publicly tracking my efforts to pay off debt really helped and I’d like to start doing that again here. Heck, I’ll even mail people congratulation cards if they achieve their goals! Anyone interested?

    1. PX*

      I just posted a bit about my money conundrum below, and while mine is (luckily) more on the saving focused side, I’m happy to cheer on anyone who wants to post about paying off debt and achieving their goals! I feel like financial literacy is so underrated and causes so many problems when it is lacking!

      So if you want to have a weekly money talk thread, I say go for it :D

    2. WellRed*

      I feel like it’s almost impossible to pay off my debt. Would that I could go back in time and make a few different choices.

    3. Meepmeep*

      Ooh, count me in for the money talk! We are in Dave Ramsey mode at present tackling our monstrous debt (mostly Wife’s student loans, which are in the six figures). We dug ourselves out of credit card debt hell in the past two years and are still going strong. I’d love some sort of check in.

    4. AnonLurker Appa*

      I too miss The Billfold! I didn’t post on the monthly check-ins but I would support and possibly join in here. Currently working on saving up, have all the debt paid off.

  41. Bewildered lately*

    Has anyone experienced thumping/irregular heartbeats? And chest pain? I’ve been experiencing these issues for a year now, been seen by two cardiologists and had multiple scans. They’ve found nothing. The second cardiologist diagnosed me with ectopic heartbeats, which results in me being very aware of them but there is nothing wrong with my heart (yay). Only I can’t sleep. And I feel anxious; I think because if your body ‘feels’ the symptoms of anxiety (or illness), then your mind feels anxious! If you see what I mean. Beta blockers are a possibility, but I’m reluctant to go on medication. They’re also setting me up with a sports musculoskeletal specialist (I am not sporty) to see if the pain part is muscular (not the heart muscle). I hesitate to post on here, as I don’t want to be frightened with examples of how doctors are wrong or don’t take women seriously, because I think they are taking me seriously. But if anyone has practical advice on what worked for them with these sorts of symptoms, I’d appreciate it! FWIW, I’m 50 and soon to qualify as menopausal. Thank you!

    1. AvonLady Barksdale*

      Do you take calcium? Calcium carbonate supplements gave me terrible heart palpitations. I also have what’s called inappropriate sinus tachycardia, which sounds way worse than it is, and in my case, it’s caused by… reflux. I hate walking down the street and getting that irregular heartbeat feeling, though I am comforted that it’s basically nothing in my case.

      If either of those things sound familiar, quitting extra calcium and making some diet changes may help.

      1. valentine*

        Would it help to do a sleep study where they also monitor you for a few hours the next day? And see if you can do it at home. (Unless you’re a morning person. Being startled awake and kicked out at 6:00 am is heinous.)

    2. Bob*

      I’ve also had weird heart issues this year. Mine havent quite been pinned down yet, but for myself – I do think I can see a correlation between when I’m stressed (and sometimes trying to deny that I’m stressed) and when I get them. So maybe try and see if there are any patterns of when they occur and work on some calming techniques (good breathing, meditation type things). I guess the latter would be the non-medication alternative to beta blockers as well? :D

    3. fposte*

      Well, the good news is nothing seems likely to be trying to immediately kill you. One possibility that I imagine was already raised is that the ectopic heartbeats are something you’ve lived comfortably with for years that have no connection to the chest pain; IOW, the heart was a red herring, if you will.

      I like the idea of a good sports med PT; there are a lot of things that can happen in the chest and rib areas to make you pretty darn uncomfortable, and bodies in general fare better when they’re doing something (it’s that quiet inaction of night that allows the mind to race, isn’t it?). A good PT sees a lot of different pain patterns and may have some ideas about yours that unlock things. Hopefully they’ll also talk to you about your work, since any chronic pain can be related to how we use our bodies 40 hours a week. If you don’t regularly do anything physical otherwise, I’d try to throw that in the mix. I don’t know your tastes, but you don’t have to, like, sign up for zumba or take a spin class; just going for a walk once or twice a day can be really helpful to get things moving better, and that also can help a lot with the attendant anxiety.

      Sorry you’re going through this, but I’m glad your heart’s okay. <3.

    4. Fikly*

      I was going to say no practical advise, but actually, a good pulse ox meter (which will also do heart rate!) is something I find very reassuring, because it’s a hard measure of what my heart rate actually is, regardless of what I feel it is. But then, unlike watches, you take it off and put it away so you don’t obsess over it.

      Also, sympathy! I have very irregular palpitations, and have never managed to successfully get them recorded. I have heard from cardiologists that I think I trust that basically, it’s probably not dangerous, but unless we get them recorded, they can’t really tell me for sure, which I mean, that seems probably true. It hasn’t killed me yet.

    5. Fikly*

      I was going to say no practical advise, but actually, a good pulse ox meter (which will also do heart rate!) is something I find very reassuring, because it’s a hard measure of what my heart rate actually is, regardless of what I feel it is. But then, unlike watches, you take it off and put it away so you don’t obsess over it.

      Also, sympathy! I have very irregular palpitations, and have never managed to successfully get them recorded. I have heard from cardiologists that I think I trust that basically, it’s probably not dangerous, but unless we get them recorded, they can’t really tell me for sure, which I mean, that seems probably true. It hasn’t killed me yet.

    6. tangerineRose*

      Other than the heart issues, have you been under more stress than usual lately or changed your diet lately? I used to have weird heart beats when I was in college and worked in fast food; I don’t know if it was stress or that I was eating a lot of fast food (it was half price!), but the combo seemed to be the problem, and it went away (mostly) on its own after that.

    7. The New Wanderer*

      I hadn’t heard the phrase ectopic heartbeats but I think I have the same thing. They started to be noticeable about 15 years ago when I was finishing my PhD (so big stress and anxiety). No chest pain though, just weird arrhythmias once in a while ever since. Usually when I’m lying down to go to sleep is when I notice them.

      I’ve also had several EKGs and no findings, but almost everything on the trigger list applies and yet nothing is a definite cause. I’ve been in really good cardiovascular shape and relatively poor shape, and neither seems to have any effect on the frequency. Mostly I just focus on meditating when it happens, to reduce the stress and see if my heart rate goes back to normal.

      1. Creapy Arms*

        They put me on a beta blocker for this and it really helped. I’m on metoprolol. I was on atenolol, went off of it because, it caused hair loss.

    8. OyHiOh*

      I have a condition called POTS that can cause heart symptoms. My case is pretty mild and the worst cardiac symptoms I get is the *feeling* that my heart is racing (while at the same time verifying that my heart, is in fact beating at a perfectly normal pace) – it feels like having an anxiety attack although it’s not.

      A family member has POTS much worse than I do and sees a cardiologist as well as a neurologist. Family member faints/hits their head pretty regularly, gets tachycardia, has memory and thinking issues – it’s severe enough that even with treatment, they use a wheelchair at least a few days a month and have a (tall!) service dog whose job is to be a portable wall to lean against or to help them stand up after a fall, carry meds, and is able to identify certain cues that family member is having an episode and respond before they fall or otherwise injur themselves.

    9. Not So NewReader*

      I get weird heart rhythms mostly in times of grief. Vitamin B takes care of it for me.

      Have you had your thyroid checked?

      One thing that has helped me a lot with anxiousness is this breathing exercise. Close your mouth and breathe in through your nose, nice deep long inhale. Verrry slowly release the breath through pursed lips.

      It also helps if my heart finds a new and uncomfortable pattern. I read some where that it slows the heart down x beats per minute. I wanna say 9 beats but I can’t remember.

      I like this because I can use it any time anywhere.
      I do recommend practicing in a calm moment. But, cool idea here, do it just before going to sleep. I find I sleep better. As you practice you can figure out how to discreetly hold your mouth so it does not look like you are puckering up to kiss someone. Handy for public settings.

    10. I have PVC*

      I’m not familiar with the term ectopic heartbeats, but I have Premature Ventricular contractions, which I can also feel but are benign. I had to wear a heart monitor for two weeks for them to be picked up. They didn’t show up on ultrasound or stress test. My Dr said some people take beta blockers but recommended I cut out caffeine first. So I’ve cut it out completely – no coffee, no tea, no chocolate (except white chocolate), not even decaf coffee or tea because those still have some caffeine. I’ve noticed a difference. I miss chocolate the most, but I also like not having that feeling of my heart doing cartwheels, so I can deal with it. If I do feel an episode come on, I practice slow deep breaths. I find that helps me to combat the effect of physical symptoms “fooling” my mind into believing it should be anxious.

      If you currently consume caffeine, it might be worth it to try a few weeks without. That could help with the anxious feelings too.

      I also have had musculoskeletal chest wall pain that was unrelated to the PVC. I thought it was an anxiety attack or my heart, and therefore my heart rate went up. But a few Aleve helped out go away as inflammation was the underlying issue.

      Hoping you can find some relief!

    11. K*

      The chest pain could be costochondritis, which is an inflammation of the connective tissue between the ribs. It’s one of the most common causes of people thinking that they’re having a heart attack. The good news is, it’s perfectly harmless and will usually go away on its own. The bad news is there isn’t really anything you can do about it. It might be worth looking up and seeing if the pain described matches up with what you feel!

      1. Natalie*

        You can treat it with NSAIDs, assuming you’re otherwise able to take them for a while (a few weeks IIRC). (Obviously talk to a doctor first.)

    12. Bewildered lately*

      Thanks for all the kind words and helpful responses! I will ask about costochondritis when I get to the specialist, and I’m working on meditative breathing. One thing I stumbled across this weekend is that dehydration might contribute to the irregular heartbeats. I’ve upped my fluid intake and have definitely noticed an improvement. Hope that helps someone else!

    13. Lilysparrow*

      I had palpitations and irregular heartbeats when my thyroid gland was dying. I have autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s), so I’m hypothyroid now, but before I was diagnosed I would go through spurts of hyPERthyroid – weight loss, irregular heartbeat, inexplicable anxiety and what felt like panic attacks but with no history and not connected to any type of trigger event.

      I know now that those periods (which alternated with periods of lethargy, weight gain, low body temperature, etc) were the last throes of my body trying to juice up thyroid hormones to keep going. You could be hyperthyroid for a different reason – my fluctuations were a few months, not a whole year.

      So if you haven’t had that checked already, it’s worth it – it’s a simple, cheap blood test for your thyroid levels and your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).

    14. Earthwalker*

      I had something like that and the primary care doc put me on serious meds. I went for a second opinion with an electrophysiologist (cardiac electric specialist) and he said I had lone atrial fib: a nuisance but harmless. He also noted that my blood work showed magnesium deficiency, so he took me off the prescription meds and suggested magnesium supplements. Even milk of magnesia, he said, would help if the rhythm problems bothered me. It works really well. You could check your regular blood work for magnesium deficiency to see if this is your problem. If it is, that’s an easy thing to fix.

  42. I'm A Little Teapot*

    I know there’s some people who do fostering animals. I’ve been fostering a hospice kitty, Auburn. He passed away this past Tuesday after a couple weeks of not eating the greatest. The shelter vet determined that his heart condition had worsened, which made him not want to eat. He had about 5 months of good food and happiness, so I count that as a success.

    I was surprisingly quite upset, not about him, but about my kitty Sibley that I’d lost in April. Go figure. Anyway, my kitty Arwen that I still have has been sitting on me more. Not sure why yet, but I’m enjoying it. I will evaluate in a few months if I’ll get another kitty, and if I’ll adopt or foster.

    1. EEOC Counselor*

      How amazing that you gave him five wonderful months at the end. He was so lucky to end up with you!

      And, yes, I understand how his death reminded you of the death of your other kitty. Grief doesn’t subside in a straight line; there will be times when you are reminded of your loss and will feel it more acutely. I’m sorry.

    2. KR*

      I had something similar happen. Fostered a German Shepherd. A month after I brought her home I decided to adopt her and she died roughly a week or so later. There was no way I could have prevented it but her death affected me greatly. So sorry. It’s so hard. At least Auburn & Sibley had you for the time they did and I’m sure they were grateful and loved you.

  43. Grandma Mazur*

    I see there’s good news (excuse the pun) for everyone who felt bad that they weren’t boycotting Chick-Fil-A for their religious and anti-LGBTQIAA affiliations…

    1. Jules the 3rd*

      meh, they’ve said it before, just switched to different and less obvious anti-LGBTQx groups. I’ll go back to them when they’ve had 2 -3 years of donations checked and ok.

    2. Elizabeth West*

      They’ve said this before and went back to it, so :P. I don’t like their food and it’s bad for you anyway, so it’s easy for me to skip over them.

  44. Jaid*

    I did one of my long drives yesterday. It was pretty relaxing and nice that being Friday, the roads, farmers market and grocery store wasn’t crowded.

    Today, I’m getting my cook on. I picked up some meats (pork, beef and chicken) and veg (bok choy and lemon grass) yesterday. I brined the chicken in pickle juice (forgot to rinse it off before cooking, sigh). So far, I cooked rice in the IP using ginger and a chicken thigh, and ginger garlic chicken with a chunk of lemon grass. Both turned out well. I expect to make fried rice with the chicken thigh and the rice, so I’ll need to make more rice for the other dishes…

      1. Jaid*

        Thanks! I made more rice, some garlic ginger white sauce, and bok choy.

        I finally cleaned out the fridge. There’s some more things I may want to cook later this week, but I have fixings prepped, at least!

  45. PX*

    I feel like I should be able to work this out myself, but can someone who is more money savvy than me tell me if my saving strategy is sensible? I’m not US based so not looking for specific account types, more the strategy.

    Essentially right now I have my savings split roughly into 4 accounts:

    2 – have bigger chunks of money in them, are access restricted (fixed time frames) and have okay interest rates of about 1.5-2% (low by my standards, but these are the times we live in I guess..)
    1 – has advantages for if/when I can finally afford to buy a house (government contributes based on the amount I have saved). Restricted contribution but okay interest rate – relatively small amount of money in it
    1 – high interest rate (5%!) but limited contribution and time limited as well (special offer my bank does) – I basically re-open this account every year to take advantage of the high interest rate, but given that the amount that can actually go in is so small, it may not actually be worth it?

    I guess the question is does it make sense splitting my money in the first two accounts and losing some of the compounding benefit? I originally did it because I found a good-ish interest rate, but didnt want to have a lot of money locked away that I couldnt access. Similarly, should I just forget about the last account and focus on consolidating the amounts so that even though the actual interest rate isnt great, it still works out better due to the bigger base value?

    1. fposte*

      If all the accounts have compound interest, combining isn’t a financial advantage based on the interest alone. IOW, if you have two accounts at 2% compounding, the interest will be the same overall as if you have one account at 2% compounding. There’s no reason in what you’ve described to keep the two 1.5%-2% accounts separate, so I’d say pick one. Whether the 5% account is worth keeping separately depends on how much money we’re talking about and how much energy and time it takes you to manage the three–soon to be two–accounts. You can easily figure out just what you’re talking about in actual currency numbers with an online compound interest calculator (moneychimp dot com has one). For instance, if you’ve got $2000 (call it 2000 units if you like) and the 5% is compounded monthly, you have $2102.32 at the end of year; if it’s 2% compounded monthly, that’s $2040.37. Is it the trouble you take worth $60 per year? That’s for you to say, and of course if you have $200,000 that’s going to be $6000 per year, which is worth a lot more trouble :-).

      1. PX*

        And this is how you can tell its been too long since I thought about compounding because it really took me a while to think about it before I was like, oh yes, actually it doesnt matter…which makes it a shame that the account with the better rate is the more restrictive one :/ So I guess past me was fine for putting in a slightly lower amount but assuming the higher interest I get will offset all the faff of opening the account and eventually be a net gain.

        Yeah, I probably need to spend some time with a calculator and figure this out by next tax year which is my usual annual cue to review all this stuff. In the grand scheme of things, its usually not much of a hassle to manage (its all direct debits anyway), but as the time looms when I hope to be able to make that deposit on a house, just trying to wring all the value out of the banks that I can.

        You usually have lots of good money advice fposte, would you be willing to do a ‘how to invest, for dummies who are also very risk averse’ post someday? :D At this point in time, when interest rates are barely keeping up with inflation, its tempting to think about putting my money somewhere that will generate better returns but…the fear!

        1. fposte*

          A few years back, a University of Chicago professor said that the basics of investing can be written on a 3×5 notecard, and it’s true. I’ll post a link to an article with his nine rules (and a snapshot of the notecard); while some of the details are U.S. centric, the principles are largely sound. There are a ton of “experts” who make a lot of money by convincing people that investing is complicated and tricky, but the odds are high that you’ll perform as well as those experts over time if you keep putting money in diversified low-cost index funds and leave it alone.

            1. Dancing Otter*

              Oh, it’s possible, but one would need to put in almost as much time studying and managing investments as another full-time job. A true index fund includes the dogs as well as the best performers on the index. Plus, index funds go down when the index goes down. Someone watching the market closely enough might mitigate both those risks. Most people aren’t that dedicated.

              Where I disagree with him is in using target funds instead of regular index funds. The target funds are based on the idea of adjusting the mix of investments – stocks, bonds, cash equivalents – according to the investment horizon of the investors. Not everyone who plans to retire in 20XX needs the same mixture of aggressive, growth and conservative investments. So a target 20XX fund simply can’t be the proper fit for all of them.

              I use both stock funds (and a few stalwart stocks like Berkshire Hathaway, which is almost a mutual fund unto itself), and bonds, and certificates of deposit, but I determine the mix according to my own risk tolerance. Absent some major change in either the economy or my personal circumstances, I review and rebalance semi-annually at most. I wouldn’t dream of letting some actuary dictate that, instead. (BTW, not to boast, but I’ve done very well for myself.)

              1. fposte*

                There’s nothing legally binding you to a particular target date fund, though–if you want to go more aggressive, choose one farther out, and if you’re more conservative, closer in. It doesn’t have to be a literal target date. Their real benefit is in helping people avoid the psychological errors that are really how investors lose money. If you don’t need that protection, a separate three-fund portfolio is fine.

                There are people who pick stocks successfully for a while, but almost nobody outperforms the S&P500 forever. Peter Lynch beat the S&P until he didn’t; Bill Miller beat the S&P until he didn’t (BRK-B hasn’t beat the S&P for about a decade, but hey, it’s nice to get deals on furniture :-)). It’s unlikely that a retail investor can reliably replicate their successes, and it’s even less likely that they can avoid their pitfalls. (And of course if you’re looking at active fund management you double up on that risk, because you have to get lucky picking a fund manager as well as getting lucky with the stocks.)

                Mostly, though, the index card is because that’s an absolutely solid way of approaching it. Even if it could be tweaked if somebody likes TIPS or I-Bonds or a value tilt or whatever somebody’s individual philosophy, that’s a completely optional add-on that is more about personal style and concern than a significant statistical advantage over time.

              2. Countess Boochie Flagrante*

                Yup. I work for an investment firm and I’ve absolutely seen clients managing their own investments who significantly outperform the market over a long timespan. But they’re investing junkies who put a ton of time and energy into it, and usually have that sort of a mindset to begin with. It’s not for everyone, and I consider them outliers when it comes to advising ordinary investors.

            2. Jules the 3rd*

              Yeah, there’s a Nobel-winning formula (Black-Scholes) that explains why index funds are the highest return / risk ratio.

              What’s interesting is that so many people now know this that the index funds are basically functioning like giant savings accounts, in the US, and it’s distorting the market some. It’s possible that it will distort the market enough (ie, bubble) that all the bad advice about timing / individual stocks will become briefly accurate.

    2. Policy wonk*

      I recommend Michelle Singletary, a columnist in the Wahington Post. She talks about having savings to cover 3-6 months of living expenses, a separate “life happens” fund to cover emergencies like a car repair or sudden need to replace an appliance, as well as retrement funds and, if you have kids, college savings. She hates debt other than a mortgage. Her advice is sound and practical. I think she would like your approach, as long as you know whatveach account is for.

  46. Brandee*

    Weird weekend. I discovered that a friend is is an Internet Personality. It’s not a super close friend- the mom of my daughter’s best friend- but someone I’ve known for 5 years.

    I’m not huge on social media but recently created an account on the platform she’s on and connected with her. Turns out she has over 150k followers. I mentioned this to a mutual acquaintance and apparently I’m one of the only people that didn’t know this.

    Reading/seeing her stuff is so odd. It’s both not at all her real personality but yet somehow is?

    I guess this is what it would be like to be Alison’s coworker and not know she has this online presence!

  47. bluelights*

    how do you make yourself do stuff that you want to do?
    This coming 2020 year, I want to learn how to prepare edible fish. Also, I want to learn how to make some fancy desserts, like they do on the Great British Baking Show. And I want to start volunteering as a NICU cuddler. Etc.
    But when I come home after work, it’s so much more appealing to just WATCH the Great British Baking Show. And to just heat up some veggies in the microwave. Etc.
    And then I feel like life is getting away from me. So. For people who successfully Do Hobbies. How? How do you make yourself do them?

    1. Pam*

      Start with the fish- it’s relatively easy to cook, and you can do it once or twice per week. Perhaps cook a double portion, so the extra can be mixed with the veggies.

    2. BRR*

      Is it actually stuff you want to do or does it sound nice if you were doing those things? I bake, and I guess I’d say I don’t make myself bake. I do it when I want to. And that means not feeling obligated to bake if I’m tired or don’t want to clean up after etc.

    3. cat socks*

      I find salmon pretty easy to cook. I season it with salt, garlic powder, basil and oregano. Sometimes lemon pepper. Before I sprinkle the spices, I spray it with some olive oil. I cook it at 425 until it reaches 145 degrees. After it comes out, I’ll brush the pieces with butter and squeeze on some lemon juice. I’ve also seen pre-seasoned salmon at Whole Foods so you just need to pop it in the oven.

      I also like the blackened tilapia recipe from the blog Once Upon a Chef.

    4. WellRed*

      Well, you could start by picking something ( make a desert) and doing it on Saturday afternoon instead of after getting home from work (assuming here a normal weekday schedule).

    5. female-type person*

      Smear pesto sauce from a jar on either salmon or tilapia. I cook the salmon in the toaster oven for 20 minutes, the tilapia fillets for 12, the idea is, until opaque and/or flakes. Tastes fancy and obscures the fish taste, if that is a concern. I think this is an easy entrance ramp into cooking fish.

    6. Loopy*

      Pick one to start so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

      I found documenting my progress in some fashion helped motivate me. This was low key. I made a special baking Instagram to hopefully see progress. I took a picture of each bake. The goal was more to have a place to see a progression than to accumulate followers. I hit one year today and have come very far. BUT I did only that one thing. Maybe divide the year into quarters for each different thing?

    7. NewReadingGlasses*

      Cookbook recommendation: “Fish: the complete guide to buying and cooking” by Mark Bittman. The recipes have a variety of very easy to more complex, and are in alphabetical order by fish name. The buying advice in it is good as well.

      As for hobbies, I dunno. I used to knit, but I don’t seem to want to any more. I also grow succulents, which is a pretty good hobby if you like plants but have intermittent time to pay attention to them.

    8. Dancing Otter*

      My hobby is making patchwork quilts. I like to do it, and I know how to do it. I have plenty of fabric and designs. Starting isn’t my problem. The last time I counted, I had 18 PHDs (projects half done), and several more all set up, pattern and fabric, ready to start.

      But too often, it’s just easier to spend time online (as I am right now), or watch TV, or read a book. I need to have a self-imposed deadline, or things don’t get done. For example, I finished three quilts in two months in time for a quilt show. Admittedly, they had all been started months earlier, but I finished them by the deadline.

      In your example of cooking fish, buying the fish will give you a deadline, won’t it, of cooking it before it spoils? For baking, maybe commit (privately) to bringing a cake to work on such-and-such a date. Internal deadlines add just enough pressure for me without actual stress/panic/how can I possibly finish this in time craziness. YMMV.

    9. sleepy librarian*

      I’m a planner, and planning (along with a deadline as someone else suggested), is how I make things happen. I also add in a hefty dose of scheduling. I just read My Life in France by Julia Child (which is super inspiring if you want to cook more!) and because of that book I spent time looking through my cookbooks, identifying recipes I wanted to make, and then picking weeks I would make them. Now they are just a part of my meal plan. I kept it small–I’m planning on trying one new fancy recipe a week, not 5.

      And for other hobbies/things I want to get done that take more effort to get going, I schedule them in my calendar. As in, literally block out two hours for “crochet baby blanket” or anything else I want to do. If you wanted to get started with being a NICU cuddler, I assume there’s some forms you need to fill out to get going–I’d pick a date and block out “Fill out NICU forms” or “Research how to become a NICU cuddler” or whatever. Once it’s on my calendar, I personally find it very hard to ignore. YMMV. Then those things become habits and I’m less likely to need to schedule them as intensely, but I find using my calendar and living by it to be as helpful in my personal life as it is in my work life.

    10. Natalie*

      Something that helped me was signing up for something that I had to pay for regularly (piano lessons, in my case). Drop-in type classes don’t work for me, I’ll always procrastinate until all my passes or whatever have expired. I pay for my individual classes monthly and that helped me get started. Once I got over the initial hump of developing the habit of practicing and learned some songs, I enjoy playing a lot more.

    11. Squidhead*

      On the hobby front: I started a handicraft again after many years because I decided to make it for a friend. I didn’t pick a “due” date or tell her about it (it’s a large embroidery piece and could easily take me a year!) so I don’t have *pressure* to finish it, but I love my friend and want to give it to her. This seems to help me prioritize working on it. Does having a recipient in mind help you?

    12. lasslisa*

      I’ve started building in break points, or using built in break points, to ask myself explicitly “what do you WANT to do right now?” Imagine doing a few different things and see how you feel.

      I get bored watching TV though, so it’s in some ways easier. Bathroom break and realize I’m feeling kind of weary from all the sitting and would like to do something that feels like I’m interacting with the world…

    13. Anonymato*

      I feel that part of the definition of a hobby is that it’s something you enjoy. So, once you actually start doing it, the joy you feel will be your motivator. Having a schedule (like every Sat 10-12 at the NICU) will help too. As to actually taking the first step, I agree with the previous response + read somewhere that when it comes to procrastination, you sort of have to ignore your feelings. If you keep thinking “one day, I will feel like I want to do this, I will wait till that happens” – well, it never does happen. You have to start the action and than the feeling will follow, if that makes sense.

    14. Koala dreams*

      If it’s household stuff like cooking, music helps. Also, sometimes I get up and do things in the commercials break. Or in the evening when I can’t sleep and there is only scary things on the TV.

    15. Meepmeep*

      I get where you’re coming from. If you’re exhausted it’s hard to summon up the motivation to do even the most enjoyable thing.

      I have two hobbies – knitting and music. The music hobby involves performances, so I have to prepare for those even if I don’t feel like practicing. I just set an app on my phone to check off “Practice the Piano” every day. I don’t always feel like doing it, it doesn’t always feel like fun, but this is how I get to have fun and not embarrass myself when it’s performance time.

      For knitting, our recent cold snap is great motivation to fantasize about all the warm fuzzy things I want to wear or to have my family wear, surround myself with cozy soft yarn in beautiful colors, and knit and knit and knit.

      So I guess my strategy is either (a) make myself do it with various forms of technology, or (b) find something to enjoy in the activity itself.

    16. Alexandra Lynch*

      Well, I decided that doing the hobby is part of my self-care. In this case, cooking. It’s better for me if I cook from scratch, and since I live with my two partners, it’s also better for them. It makes me happy to cook, and I find it soothing. However, I also don’t have a regular job, so I have time to do the lengthy prep that some dishes require.

      Here is how I do fish.
      Heat oven to 400 degrees.
      Take out cast iron skillet. Spray with oil.
      Put fish on cast iron skillet. Spray again with oil.
      Season fish very thoroughly with chosen seasoning blend.
      Cook fish for 10 minutes per inch thickness.
      Remove fish, add sides, and serve.

    17. Colette*

      Can you commit to spending 10 minutes a day? That could mean you watch a video or read a recipe about a fancy dessert, and then try it on the weekend. Basically, you Build it I too your routine.

  48. Valancy Snaith*

    Niche request here. My mom passed away on Halloween and was an avid knitter/crocheter/quilter/fabric artist of many varieties. My dad has begun the process of trying to get rid of her stash. He’s giving away some of it to friends of hers, but is there anywhere that will take donations of yarn and/or fabric? He’s located in Illinois, but willing to ship if it isn’t ridiculously exorbitant.

    1. BunnyWatsonToo*

      Ask the local library if they’re interested. My grandmother’s stash has supplied a number of craft activities at our library.

    2. 00ff00Claire*

      In the town where I live, there is a volunteer group that sews for premature babies. Another group knits items for a clothing closet. I have also heard of groups that make quilts or knit to donate to shelters, give out to those in need, etc. Maybe there is a group like that local to him who could use the yarn or fabric?

    3. Can I get a Wahoo?*

      The Wasteshed!! It’s an organization that collects craft supplies and resells at a low cost. They’re an awesome organization in Chicago!

      1. Reliquary*

        Seconding The WasteShed! It’s such a great organization. But any fabric must be bigger than a half yard.
        Check out their website – it has great info about donation processes.

    4. Professor Plum*

      Sorry for your loss.

      You could look for a quilt guild in the area to see if they take fabric donations or know who might. There are also used crafting/fabric/yarn stores in some areas that will buy unwanted stashes of good supplies. Another option if he simple wants to donate/get rid of it, is to take some photos and post on NextDoor, a local Facebook group or buy nothing group.

    5. All Hail Queen Sally*

      Sorry for your loss.

      Are there any senior centers nearby that have knitting, crochet, sewing or quilting groups? Can you google knit, crochet, sewing or quilting guilds, or groups in his city/town? Are there any local yarn or sewing, or sewing machine stores that might have a list of needy groups? Are there girl scout or other type groups around? All age community centers? Children’s activity centers?

      I work in a yarn store in a fiber-friendly city that has all the above and more (we are always getting such requests) but I grew up in a teeny-tiny town that (still) has absolutely nothing like any of the above, so I realize that not everywhere has options.

    6. Dancing Otter*

      There are Project Linus chapters all over. They would be able to use both yarn and fabric, I think, but definitely the yarn.

    7. Ranon*

      Creative reuse stores will take that sort of thing- looks like Wasteshed in Chicago and Idea Store in Urbana are options

    8. onetwosix*

      Check out Fibre Forward: https://fibre-forward.org/

      They’re based in Madison, WI and they collect donations of yarn and supplies which they distribute for free as learn to knit/crochet kits and they also teach free classes, provide supplies for folks to make knitted breast prosthetics, etc.

    9. My Brain Is Exploding*

      Lutheran churches (and probably others) make charity quilts and many churches have knitting ministries.

  49. Elspeth Mcgillicuddy*

    My poor cat! I moved out recently and finally brought my cat to the new apartment yesterday. She is not happy about the new place with new sounds and new smells. First time she’s moved since we brought her home as a little kitten. She’s starting to settle in a bit though and is fairly content to be sitting on my lap. I don’t think she’s eaten anything yet.

    1. Coffee please*

      You can try some Feliway to help her feel more comfortable maybe. I always do this when I move. Congrats on the move.

    2. Windchime*

      In the past when I’ve moved, I’ve kept the cat(s) confined in one room for a day or so, preferably in a room like the bedroom with familiar furniture and a place to hide (under the bed is always popular). I had one brave cat who was ready to explore the rest of the house right away, and another that hid for several days. Just make sure she has water and knows where her litter box is and I’m sure she will adjust. Good luck!

  50. Kuododi*

    It’s OVER!!!!!! Radiation treatment is finished!!! DH took me to the last session and afterwards we went to lunch at a spiffy downtown restaurant. (We both had buffalo bacon burgers. Magnificent!) I’m still having to pace myself otherwise I fatigue easily and the nausea doesn’t make for fun times. Thanks to everyone for the support, good thoughts and prayers.

    My sister and her side of the family have been in town for Thanksgiving. Yesterday , I was able to to go with little sister and the niece to our local cat cafe. Keeping the celebration going. (The cafe had oodles of young kitties up for adoption. I’m guessing 8-10 wks tops. ). Absolutely gorgeous sweet babies. One of the orange tabbies decided to take advantage of my lap and my big floppy sweater for a serious nap. His motor was on full blast .

    1. Not So NewReader*

      Phew! The joy coming off this post, wow!
      I am so happy for you. Congratulations and I wish you the best always.

    2. NoLongerYoung*

      Yippee – this is a great reason to celebrate and thinking of you… high five. So glad to read this!

    3. Anon woman with breast cancer*

      So good to hear this, it was only a few short weeks and you made it thru with flying colours!

      I’m so pleased that you can now move on to your regular life again, this is hugely important.

      Question, was the burger a buffalo patty topped with bacon? Sounds interesting. We have some buffalo on a farm about 10miles from here and I think they sell the meat, need to check.

      Sending a big hug of success your way!

      1. Kuododi*

        Oh yes…it was probably a 1in thick hand formed fresh buffalo meat Patty topped with lots of cheese (Gruyere in this case.). Also bacon , mixed greens and a homemade barbeque sauce. (Glorious … Simply glorious!!!)

  51. Holly*

    I really do love LA, but I don’t know if moving there is the best idea.

    I want to save up and pay off my student loans, and LA doesn’t seem like the best place to do any of those things. So I’m looking at middle-of-nowhere places that won’t tempt me with anything I could spend money on. However… having a social life is important to me, and one of the biggest contributors to my happiness, and the places I’m looking at are basically just retirement communities or college towns. So.. I don’t know what to do.

    Is LA as expensive as I’m led to believe? Is there a middle ground here? I’m kind of boxed in by the places that (might) offer me a job.

    1. BRR*

      It’s pretty expensive. I think there are cheaper large cities or mid size cities that do have a more reasonable cost of living. You will probably just have to compromise somewhere. But there are some more affordable places that would offer a social life.

    2. Spoons please*

      LA is expensive, but if you’re willing to live with a roommate, it can be do-able. That’s what I did 10 years ago, anyway. Traffic is so awful, though, I’d recommend living somewhere you want to spend time. Your money might go further in, like Riverside, but then you’re in Riverside.

      I’ve moved lots. Overall, I’d say don’t live somewhere horrible just because it’s cheap. I think that can work if you have a support system- lots of friends moved back home to pay off student loans- but being in a strange place you hate is a miserable experience.

      Oh, and don’t discount college towns. Lots of population turnover makes it easier to meet new people than places where folks make friends in grade school and see no reason to make new friends!

    3. CAA*

      California is expensive in some ways and astonishingly cheap in others. You have to figure out what kind of lifestyle you’re looking for here and do some research to see if it’s feasible and fits in with your other life goals. On the one hand, I get the need for saving and paying off loans, but on the other hand, frugal living can be taken to extremes and some people end up focusing on it to the point where they give up all their dreams and postpone reaching for them until they’ve just drifted too far away. There has to be a happy medium, and it may be that it’s worth spending more now to live in a place you love and taking longer to pay off your loans. Obviously I don’t know your finances, so I don’t know whether you can make it here or if it’s even worth trying, but it sounds like it’s worth doing more research before you give up the idea.

      L.A. has so many neighborhoods and each one can be like it’s own small city where you can center your life (and there are many other cities in LA County aside from L.A. itself, each of which has its own character). Find out where your potential employers are located; what those neighborhoods are like; what it costs to live nearby; and if there’s a decent social life in that area. The nightmare scenario is having to commute across the city, so you have an advantage in that you can find a job and then decide where to live; but if all your potential employers are around San Fernando and you’re dying to live in Redondo Beach, that’s gonna be a recipe for misery. You can get a lot of good information about specific areas and commutes on city-data or reddit.

      Public transit has improved by leaps and bounds in the past 15 years, and if you plan well, you may find that you don’t need a car, even in car-centric So Cal, and you can save a ton of money that way. I know one couple that does without a car most of the time and just rents one when they want to go on a road trip, but they live in a really walkable area on a metro line with a grocery store nearby and they both work from home.

      1. Auntie Social*

        LA and San Diego neighborhoods are created by a combination of natural dividers—canyons, mountains, rivers—and freeways. There are lots of free things to do, and there isn’t a need for a lot of air conditioning or heating most of the year. You don’t need real winter clothing unless you ski. The grocery stores deliver which keep you from making impulse purchases. There is also no negative judgment if you shop at Goodwill or other resale stores—it’s a point of pride with a lot of folks.
        I bought “the worst house in a nice neighborhood” near the water. Never refi’d, it’s paid off now, property taxes are $600 a month. If I need to rent it out because I’m in a home I can get $6500 a month. Buy dirt as soon as you can.

          1. fhqwhgads*

            You’d pay that in a nice neighborhood by the water, presumably for multiple bedrooms. Average rent in LA is 2500.

      2. Not a cat*

        Lived in CA since 1998. It was not-very-expensive then, but it is crazy expensive now. They vote to increase the (regressive) sales tax almost every year. Rents are really high and unless you are a millionaire you won’t be able to buy. On my old street, I saw a 2B townhome sell for 300K 5 years ago. Just this past year it sold for 750K. Commutes are terrible and I have friends who don’t have cars and it takes them 2 hours to get anywhere. I understand that CAA sees the improvement in public transportation but I can’t imagine where (not the westside). Take a look at the LA Times. Affordable housing is difficult to find. I had to move from the beach to a few miles inland this year. It’s crowded, loud and dirty and I hate it. My new neighbors don’t have inside voices, ever–and lucky me, I work from home. I would seriously, seriously consider looking elsewhere.

    4. Loopy*

      I’ve had a great social life in more affordable cities but it depends on what you consider a social life. My social life kept me happy and was low cost.

      In Tucson I met other young professionals and we did group hikes and friends dinner parties and went out to restaurants. But the city didn’t have the social variety of someplace like DC, Chicago, NY, Boston, LA, etc.

      I live in Charleston now and there’s tons of great food, beaches, some hiking (but very flat), water sports (kayaks, paddleboarding), etc. Both are worlds more affordable but I had a coworker from NYC and she felt so bored here. She HATED it in direct comparison to NYC.

      Both places had great volunteer opportunities and didn’t feel like the middle of nowhere at all. I think there are probably plenty of options like these that aren’t retirement or college towns. I also went to grad school in Pittsburgh and would definitely add it to the list.

    5. Really?*

      State capitals and their suburbs? Some are reasonable cost of living and have colleges in the area if that’s where you are looking for jobs.

    6. Not A Manager*

      LA is expensive to rent in, public transport is virtually non-existent, and drive times are astronomical. We were able to live within our “flight path” of work, kids’ schools, and friends, otherwise the commutes would be unbearable. Some of the south suburbs or east suburbs are more affordable – but then you’re not really “in LA.” and the drive times to get to “L.A.” are even longer.

      When you talk about a social life, are you imagining living in a particular kind of neighborhood? Do you have friends who already live here?

      I would not have moved to LA if I didn’t have relationship reasons to do it, and if I didn’t have enough resources to be able to make trade-offs that worked for me.

    7. MissDisplaced*

      Rent in LA is now super expensive. Like, $2500/month for a 1 bedroom apartment. So be prepared! Also, car registration and insurance are really expensive.

      I lived in LA for 16 years and left around 2007 when it started getting so expensive compared to my $50k salary. But it was fun to be there.

      Are you looking for a warm place specifically? Or was it the film industry of LA? Atlanta has that and is probably a bit more affordable. Austin?

    8. NewNameTemporarily*

      Agree with all of the above (I have friends and family from SCAL; the family is having to move out of state because they can’t buy a home).

      Think about what it is about LA that you love. The idea? The weather? The arts scene?
      Then… that’s what your goal is, a place with great weather and outside cafes, perhaps.
      The arts scene? Austin, Albuquerque, and many others.
      Beach? My cousin & family have lived there since birth, and they have to make it a field trip 2x a year, because the traffic is so bad from their more affordable inland location.

      I’m not trying to be negative. I am in CAL and can’t afford to buy here, but don’t want to move yet. but… it’s so expensive that even though I’m in the 90% percentile for my age group, in earned income, I spend 60% of my take home on rent plus utilities.

      And, CA state income tax for the highest bracket is 13%. So I’m not taking home what someone in a lower income tax state would be, to start with.

      By the time I buy gas for the commute ($4 a gallon, and that’s regular), pay the high car insurance, and drive the distances to get to work, I have eaten up almost all the rest of my discretionary income. (My car is 15 years old… at least we don’t have rust here). And yes, I pack my lunch. I have zero idea how folks who make less, get by, although I believe it is because they are not saving for retirement. Or they are living on their credit cards.

      Oh, and the deposit on this place to rent – close to 10K. Ouch..

      And the state and local taxes – the sales tax is 10%. So every single thing almost (except food)… is more highly taxed. One of my friends figured out, she works until the middle of October before she is actually taking anything home for herself. And blew her tire out on the giant pothole on the freeway. (higher gas taxes have not gone into road repairs).

      Just saying… the allure and the reality are two entirely different things. Make sure you’ve done your budget, have a plan – and know what it is you really want. There are some wondeful, wonderful cities out there, with vibrant art scenes, more to do outdoors, and rich, diverse people with a broad range of interests. You may want to spend some planning time looking at the apartments online for a sense of what you get (and read the reviews), and research. Look at and be clear what kind of job you can get, what the commute is like, and do your budget. Then take a vacation to come here and really try to apartment and job hunt, and get a sense of whether you’d be safe after dark,how far you’d really be from any of the glamorous areas, and whether you’d have time – with the job you’d have to work – to do some of the activities you are moving here to do.

      All the best….

      1. Holly*

        Yeah……….. I think I’m going to turn down the interview request for the reasons you mentioned. I’ve been thinking on it all weekend, and I don’t think it’s in line with my goals right now. My friends aren’t happy with it — they think I’m giving up or something — but I don’t think I’ll be living the life I actually want there.

  52. Teal*

    Does anyone have a favorite salad container to take to work? I have several large, rectangular glass containers but they’re heavy and I can be clumsy. Any that aren’t plastic?

    1. Kathenus*

      The ones I use are plastic, Rubbermaid. I use the round 1.6 quart size for a large lunch salad almost daily. Not sure if you’ll be able to find lightweight that’s not plastic, although you might find some aluminum ones at a kitchen specialty store if you’d prefer that.

    2. AcademiaNut*

      Check out Asian metal lunch boxes. They’re made of thin steel and have a lid that clamps on, and are light, sturdy and easily washable. I’ll put some links to follow with examples – if you’ve got an Asian market check for them there, because the one I have was much cheaper than the Amazon examples.

    3. Boomerang Girl*

      I got one at Walmart that flattens for storage that comes with a utensil that is a fork in one side and a spoon on the other . I love it!

  53. DoctorateStrange*

    I have a big assignment due in two days. It’s strange how my anxiety has escalated. Like, I know what I’m doing, but at the same time, I am hyperventilating at times, my rationality goes out the window, and I’m thinking of the worst outcomes. Fingers crossed that I finally finish it this weekend!

    1. Middle School Teacher*

      I hear you. I wrote a paper for a masters class last weekend and every time I thought about it, my heart would race and I woke up in the middle of the night several times for a week. Fingers crossed for you!

  54. anonForNow*

    I like to take photos of animals and draw pictures of them. So I have folders in my laptop to hold the photos, and I’ve got things organized by the animal. For example, there’s a bird folder with subfolders named emu, flamingo, duck, etc.

    The tricky part is that some of the photos are not very good, but when I only have a few not very good photos of a particular animal, I want to keep it – I still might be able to draw it, but if I later start getting good photos of this type of animal, I might want to get rid of the not-great photos. And I have a LOT of animal photos. So I’m trying to think of a decent naming convention (which is also kind of a pain because first I have to open the photo to get it big enough to see if it’s a bit blurry, then I need to close it and rename it, which is easy for 1 photo but this could be a lot of pictures). And then some photos (birds with flapping wings) will probably usually be blurry, but they’re cool, so I might want to keep them anyway.

    Short version of this: File naming convention for photos to kind of show if they’re things I should get rid of or if they’re really great photos.

    1. Kathenus*

      I have a lot of photos saved, and what I do is have a subfolder in each called ‘highlights’ and move or copy the higher quality pictures there. That way I still have them all if needed, but I have an easy way to quickly access the better ones when I’m looking to get them for some reason.

    2. Anon Here*

      There’s software for bulk-renaming files. You can also copy the name and then repeatedly paste to rename.

    3. Sunflower Sea Star*

      Honestly I’d take a completely different approach and use a program like Lightroom. You can tag photos (animal names, location, etc.) and also rate them. So if you have a photo of a lion that’s really good, you could tag it with all kinds of info about the photo and where you took it.
      Lion
      African
      Male
      Omaha Zoo
      etc
      Then you could at any point, view all your photos tagged “lion” no matter where they were shot and choose one to shoot. Or delete the lesser quality ones. Or maybe you’re drawing from one photo but you’d like to change the angle of the paw, you can easily scroll through all your reference photos that have lions.
      Wanna draw an ibex today? easily pull up all the ibex photos.
      Want to draw something from that time you went to the Georgia Aquarium? Pull up those photos easily!
      Not sure what you want to draw, but you’re thinking maybe a bird? Pull up all the ones tagged “bird” and rated 3+ stars and see what catches your eye.
      Have a great photo of a bison but you can’t remember if it was from a zoo, your trip to Yellowstone, or that roadside tourist trap in South Dakota? Doesn’t matter, find all the bison shots at once!
      Setting it up might be time consuming if you have a large collection already, but this kind of a setup will give you way more functionality than file names and folders.

      1. Seeking Second Childhood*

        Is there anything that provides the organizational functions of Light room without the photoediting aspects?

        1. Here for randomness*

          2nd recommendation for Lightroom for metadata editing (e.g. keywords)
          ACDSee is another option, but I was not convinced to switch from Lightroom when I tried a previous version. There is a trial version for you to try though.
          On Windows, you can add keywords by right clicking and selecting properties or info (I can’t recall which), but the keywords may not be easily visible through the default file explorer. On a Mac, keywords can be added and searched for in the Photo App. Aggravatingly, keywords are not visible through the iPhone/iPad Photo app. Lightroom can sync files to mobile devices with some metadata editing though depending on version may only sync metadata edits from desktop to mobile.

        2. Sunflower Sea Star*

          Not that I know of, sorry. LR is my favorite and it’s 99% of what I use for photo management and editing.

    4. Anono-me*

      Why not name it: General, Specific, Quality.

      For example “Bird-Sparrow-Poor” or “Bear-Grizzly-Excelent” and for the ones you want to keep no matter what “Horse-Pinto-Keep”.

  55. Fikly*

    Yet another medical update.

    Last weekend I developed sudden bad foot/ankle pain, right on top of a tendon I had replaced 13 years ago. It was replaced with one of my own tendons, because this was before we knew I had a connective tissue disorder and that all my tendons are crap. I was 99% sure I’d spontaneously ruptured it. Saw my surgeon Tuesday, he was 99% sure I’d ruptured it. I started planning for surgery #13 while lying in the MRI that evening.

    By some miracle of fate, it doesn’t appear to be torn. Severely inflamed and unhappy, possibly a micro tear that didn’t show, but nothing big. So it’s to be a boot and partial weight bearing on crutches (my herniated disc will not allow non-weight bearing) for 3-4 months, likely, and then hoping it gets better.

    This is a super dangerous tendon to injure, because it’s critical for structural support in the foot. If it goes completely, the bones start moving, and then extremely extensive surgery is needed to fix that whole mess. I’ve been down that road before, I have no desire to go down it again.

    Part of me is happy to not be having another surgery, given it’ll mean a big chunk of time off the thing we do not speak of on weekends, even though it’d be paid. Also, surgery is expensive and not fun. But on the other hand, surgery fixes the problem (we’d likely transfer in a donor tendon) and has an expected recovery timeline I am very experienced with. This is going to be a long term very slow recovery and crossing our fingers.

    Also, now, regardless of whether or not it was surgery, I am going to have to find a new apartment, pack, and move while on crutches, and that’s just going to blow. I could, potentially, hire someone to pack, or even reach out to a friend, but first, expensive, and second, I have severe people touching my stuff issues.

    1. SophieChotek*

      Oh no! I am sorry to hear that.
      I hear you about the expense of professional movers.
      Sending good thoughts your way.

      1. Fikly*

        Thanks! The good news is I have the money. The bad news is that it’s coming out of an inheritance, and I was really hoping to save that money for other things.

    2. Not So NewReader*

      Wow, that is amazing that your foot did not need surgery.

      Regarding moving can you put things in boxes so that the other person only touches the box not the items?
      OTH, do some items make you cringe less than others? While I do not have a concern similar to yours, I do have a list of things I prefer to handle myself. Some of the items are personal, like underwear and financial records. Some items are just plain fragile, I figure it I am the one who breaks it then that is just a conversation between me and me. No one else.

      1. Fikly*

        Yeah, I kind of feel like I won the lottery!

        I do not mind people dealing with boxes. The issue is going to be getting the things in boxes. The good news is half my stuff is still in boxes from the previous move in July. But a lot of stuff will need to be packed, and it’s going to involve a lot of standing. Probably the best thing to do is just very slowly, over time.

        And relying on people for the things they can help with, like obtaining boxes, because I can’t carry them into my apartment.

    3. Pam*

      I hope all goes well. I have Charcot foot, so have undergone ‘put your foot back together ‘surgery twice.

      Good luck on the move.

      1. Fikly*

        Yeah, that surgery blows. I’ve done it four times, twice on both feet because my feet are just overachievers. I have no desire for a fifth time.

        Thanks!

  56. OyHiOh*

    So, we got gifted a set of tickets on the Royal Gorge/Santa Express this past week. Absolutely lovely evening with Neptune and dragons and I walked away with a sleigh bell supposedly coming off Cupid’s harness. I asked Neptune “are we really that obvious?!” and he said he didn’t think so but we weren’t even sitting together (awkwardness of seating 5 people in a car designed for groups of 4) so, yeah. That was an interesting moment. Link in replies with sleigh bells. The elves in our car did an phenomenal job of paying attention to all of the children riding – each got a bell named for a reindeer that suited their personality and likes. Mine got Comet, Prancer, and Dasher and I assure you, each is a perfect for the child.

    Followed by youngest dragon waking up Wednesday morning with a dreadful combination of classic migraine symptoms and flu-like symptoms. Pain behind her eyes, zero tolerance for light or sound, and nausea/no appetite, and on top of that, fever and respiratory symptoms. We did not have “Thanksgiving” and have spent a good bit of the week keeping the house as dim and quiet as possible. Of course, today she feels enough better that she really don’t want to be home but has an awful sounding cough and still needs to be quiet/resting.

    Waiting on a finalists’ announcement from SETC (southeast theater conference) about a script I submitted a couple weeks ago, working on a graphic novel project, and have something like 9 scripts in various stages ranging from a couple pages of scribbled ideas to nearly done. It’s going to be a busy winter getting through all of that!.

    1. NoLongerYoung*

      The train sounds wonderful… and the bells are a sweet idea. My best to you in writing during this busy season – fingers crossed on SECT.

  57. Not enough coffee*

    Secret Santa help. I got my uncle’s sister. She’s single, mid/late 60s. Lives in a home she rents (I think- I wouldn’t get her home improvement stuff). I think she has a few cats (she for sure used to). She’s semi retired but does some pet and house sitting for supplemental income. doesn’t travel much, kind of a home body. I don’t know her well- she may have a zillion other hobbies and interests- I just know her as Uncle X’s sister, the cat sitter ;).

    Gift limit is $25. I can spend more, but I want to stay in the spirit of the game.

    Ideas? I’ve had her before (we are 20+ years into this tradition!) and done consumables (wine and chocolate- I don’t know if she likes wine but I’ve at least seen her enjoy it at holidays). She’s had me and done bath stuff.

    1. SophieChotek*

      Do you know if she likes to read? It’s hard to buy books for people you don’t know well, but I tend to load up on up on good-condition used books t $1-$3 a piece and give a stack of assorted books?

      Home-baked goods + a gift card to somewhere?

      1. Not enough coffee*

        I feel like books are really personal. I don’t know her well enough at all. I see her at funerals and at every other Christmas.

        Gift card to….where? We live in different states, so local stuff is hard and amazon seems silly. I think it might be a rule of our secret Santa not to give gift cards but it’s been broken before.

      2. The Other Dawn*

        As much as I love to read, I wouldn’t want a stack of assorted books for several reasons. I read everything electronically and usually in bed, in the dark; I wouldn’t want to carry around actual books or have to read somewhere in the light, in a chair, etc. Also, I like specific genres, as do many people, so if someone got me a bunch of book club-type books or true stories or whatever else I don’t care for, I’d either re-gift, donate, or just pack them away. If the sister likes to read, maybe a gift card to a book store?

    2. Not So NewReader*

      A snow broom for her car? You know those things that are basically a rectangle of some type of foam on a long pole. They make clearing off the car so much less of a chore.

      Hot packs like those things filled with rice that you heat in microwave are nice to have.

      A nice travel mug or travel water bottle.

      Or maybe a little stocking or basket of nice herbal teas and treats for the kitties.

      1. Dancing Otter*

        Make sure she still has the kitties, first. The year I lost both Taffy and Cleo a gift of kitty treats would have started me sobbing.

        As to the books, maybe a gift subscription (could be one month or two, depending on $$) for something like Libro. Libro is sort of like Audible, but through local bookstores instead of Amazon. Not linking because moderation, but it’s a .fm site. The recipient chooses whatever book they want.

      2. Not enough coffee*

        Hmm she lives in update NY. I can’t imagine she *doesnt* have a car broom but who knows!

        1. Not So NewReader*

          Not sure where in upstate, but I am in upstate NY and in this area not everyone is aware of these wonderful things OR they won’t spend the money because it seems frivolous.

    3. Anono-me*

      I say give her bath stuff. Most people pick gifts for other people that they think the recipients will like, but that the giver likes too.

    4. Max Kitty*

      Cute cat note cards and a sheet of stamps
      An assortment of spices (spice shops usually have nice gift sets)
      A cozy fleece throw

    5. Not enough coffee*

      Update: I just ordered an embarrassing amount of Girl Scout cookies. I am going to give her 2-3 boxes plus either wine or bath stuff.

      I don’t know my uncle well either, so this is really like an office gift exchange level of personalization.

      If she doesn’t like Girl Scout cookies, the rest of the family does and they will find a good home.

  58. tangerineRose*

    Using baking soda and water seems to work well for cleaning the shower, but when I try to put this mixture into a spray bottle for ease of cleaning, it gets clogged up. Any tips? Maybe I should be using baking soda and vinegar, but I don’t know if that will do the same thing.

    1. Taking The Long Way Round*

      Rub baking soda directly onto the surface then spray it with vinegar.
      If you add vinegar to the baking soda in the bottle you’ll get a volcano ;)

    2. They Don’t Make Sunday*

      Vinegar and baking soda are an acid and a base, respectively, and they will neutralize each other if used together. You could spray with vinegar after you rinse away the baking soda.

    3. AvonLady Barksdale*

      Baking soda will always clog up a sprayer. Sprinkle it directly on the surface and wet it, making a paste, then scrub with a sponge or microfiber cloth. But I only do that for scrubbable surfaces. Everything else gets a sprayed mixture of vinegar, water, and lavender oil (for smell and disinfectant properties).

  59. SophieChotek*

    Back Strengthening Exercises?

    I have had a lot of pain in my lower back for the past year. On a scale of 1-10, I feel like I am always at a 3.
    Last year during my physical, I asked my doctor if I could have a referrrel to see at PT (or something)? and doctor refused.
    I will ask again this year, but in the meantime, those with experience/knowledge, what kind of exercises can I do to strengthen core/lower back and maybe stop the pain.
    I’ve googled and come up with umpteen suggestions but have no idea where to start.
    Any suggestions? Links or videos you think “get it right”?

    (It would be nice if these did not require a bouncing ball; I have a small apartment and literally do not have room for a bouncing ball.)

    Thanks!

    1. BRR*

      My physical therapist gave variations on “balancing table pose” and “fire hydrants” to help me with core strengthening fir lower back pain. Just google those (search fire hydrant exercises). I don’t hold balancing table, I just extend out and back in slowly while breathing.

    2. Digley Doowap*

      Long term constant back pain can also be a symptom of other illnesses. Please get another opinion just to make sure.

      1. Quandong*

        I agree, please seek a second opinion as well getting advice from a physiotherapist. I don’t understand your doctor’s refusal to refer you to a physiotherapist and suggest you find a more responsive doctor if possible.

      2. SophieChotek*

        Thanks. (Yes I’ve wondered if it is a symptom of something else…OTOH I seem to be fine otherwise…if it’s another illness it’s very slow-moving…)

    3. Really?*

      My PT gave me 2 simple exercises plus 3 correlated ones. 1) On floor lay on stomach. Raise up on forearms with hands together, hold for 5 seconds lower and repeat 12 times. 2) Lay on stomach and raise yourself on hands hold for 5 and lower and repeat 12 times. I started out doing these every two hours for 3 months then just twice a day after. Obviously it will be tough to do every two hours. Just do as often as you can to start. For the core just do these once a day but wait a couple of weeks before you start. 1) On stomach raise each leg alternating for 30 times total. 2) on hands and knees stretch out opposite leg and arm alternating. Do this 30 times total. 3) on forearms and knees hold plank position for 5 and lower and repeat 30 times. Make sure to keep back straight and butt should not be raised.

    4. Me!*

      I’ve had lower back pain on and off for years. Finally got a referral for PT and the most helpful thing they taught me was the need to keep my hamstrings stretched. Doing that regularly has all but eliminated my lower back issues.

    5. Ann O.*

      Lower back pain can be related to a variety of things. That’s frustrating that your doctor won’t give you a referral because IMHO, you are absolutely correct to want a PT to identify the primary cause of your pain. Until that can happen, you can find a mirror and check your posture for swayback (very common!) or another postural issue. There are good comparison images on the Internet that show Ideal posture and the most common variations from it (swayback, flatback, and various pelvic tilts that have fancy names :)). That can help focus your Googling.

      In addition to that, you can try foam rolling or hollow body/powerhouse exercises. Foam rolling will often give immediate relief, but isn’t likely to lead to long-term relief unless your low back pain is caused by hamstring, IT band, glutes, or other lower body tightness (in that case, consistent foam rolling can unloosen things and lead to sustained relief). Hollow body/powerhouse exercises can be done on a yoga mat or soft floor and will strengthen your deeper abdominal muscles. There are tons of great exercises available on YouTube. However, I tend to think it’s better to have a live instructor initially with this sort of thing because they are a bit subtle. I don’t know your time or financial situation, but a group Pilates class could be a great option while you wait for PT. (for lower back pain relief, I would recommend Pilates over something like yoga)

    6. The Other Dawn*

      I wouldn’t do any exercises until you’ve seen an orthopedic doctor. There could be something disc-relation going on, or any number of other things. You don’t want to chance making it worse or injuring yourself before you’ve seen a specialist.

    7. Seeking Second Childhood*

      For me & my mom, swimming. Even when she was elderly, mom’s aches& pains always felt better those summers when she could get in the water every day. And I got hooked when it helped my frozen shoulder.
      Not just lap swimming–just walking in water has resistance to help strengthen muscles, with the bonus of neutralizing weight to take pressure off things that are getting compressed.

      1. SophieChotek*

        Thanks! (Yes I have heard swimming can be great…of course that leads to a whole different expense – a gym membership LOL)

    8. A Frayed Knot*

      Double check with your insurance to make sure you need a referral for PT. Not all policies require a referral for “specialists.” A referral will usually get you an appointment faster, but isn’t always a requirement. Good luck!

      1. Koala dreams*

        I’m not sure about the insurance thing, but if it’s possible you can find a physiotherapist that take patients without referrals from doctors. Maybe you can afford to pay it yourself? Usually you only need a couple of appointments, then you can continue with the exercises on your own.

        1. SophieChotek*

          Thank you; it really depends on cost. If its expensive…I really cannot afford to pay out of pocket….

    9. fposte*

      I’m with Hannah–this is very weird. Doctors are almost always thrilled to have a patient see a PT. I’m wondering if there’s a way around this–if this doctor just never refers, or if he thought you wanted him to find you a PT and was refusing to do that.

      So what I’d recommend in any case is looking for a well-reviewed local PT and asking them if they have a free or low-cost initial consult and noting you currently don’t have a doctor’s referral so it’s not covered by your insurance (check to make sure that’s true, BTW). It’s a good idea to have somebody look at you before you start exercising so you’re focusing on the right stuff and not just tightening up tight stuff further. And the PT’s office may have local familiarity with doctors and may say that around there doctors want you to say which PT before they’ll give a referral, or other useful information.

      1. SophieChotek*

        Thank you. (Yes that’s why I have been hesitant to start exercises without knowing what the heck I am doing…)

      2. Windchime*

        Also, check your insurance. I assumed that I had to have a referral but it turned out not to be the case and I just started booking appointments. My first PT was kind of a bust and she didn’t really help me, so I quit. But then my son recommended his PT and that one was great and really helped with my back. So if one PT doesn’t work, dump them and try another.

    10. My Brain Is Exploding*

      From someone who has been thru pt … Many many ab exercises are terrible for your back! For example, full sit ups or even full crunches. A good PT will help sort that out for you.

    11. Not enough coffee*

      Chiming in late here- but have you seen a chiro? After my last kid I had back pain that I assumed was from lugging a bunch of squirmy kids around. I finally saw a chiro who told me that my hips were completely misaligned, making one leg was .5” longer than the other! I had about 5 sessions over 2-3 weeks and I was good as new. I actually cried after the 3rd treatment because it just felt so much better.

  60. Vic tower*

    Suggestions for oily hair?

    I’ve always had oily hair. I took roaccutane many years ago which helped for a while and being on the pill helped too but I’m trying to get pregnant so can’t do that any more.

    I try to wash my hair about every third day because if I wash sooner, it just gets oily earlier. Currently, it’s starting to look oily by the afternoon when I washed it in the morning.

    I use a good quality shampoo and conditioner and I use a serum just on the ends. I minimise handling my hair and clean my brushes regularly. Any suggestions? The lengths of my hair are dry, so balance is a challenge. I’m also in Australia, so may not get all brands!

    1. Invisible Fish*

      DRY SHAMPOO is the universe’s gift to people with oily looking hair. For spray stuff: Drybar or Klorane. For sprinkle stuff: Bumble and Bumble. LIFE CHANGER.

    2. Jdc*

      My hairdresser and I both will wash the top, and bang area more frequently. I also get oily a day in. Dry shampoo helps a lot. I just clip the rest away and just wash the roots on top so I don’t look like a drowned rat.

    3. Anon woman with breast cancer*

      I currently have stubble hair as shaved it off because I was losing it with chemo. However, before this I had oily, straight long hair. Couple of things helped me: not using conditioner except once a week and then only on the ends; regular full brushing each day and keeping brush clean and free of hair after each use; alternating brands of shampoos each month; and not washing it every day, just every other day. Hope it works out for you. :)

    4. 00ff00Claire*

      Ugh, oily hair. I can relate! I can only get away with washing every other day. Going a third day is a stretch.
      – I recently bought a boar hair brush that has both boar hair and plastic bristles. The brush is not as crowded with bristles as others are, so I’m able to pull this brush completely through my hair. Using this brush regularly, I can tell that it is redistributing the oils from the scalp to the rest of my hair. Other brushes wouldn’t do this for me. When I do this in the morning, it gives my hair some more body as well. I also brush from the roots to the tips before I shampoo.
      – I use a gentle clay mask on days that I don’t wash my hair. I find it helps to control at least the oil on my face and forehead and therefore keeps my hair less oily. I use a bit more of my powder-based makeup on those days to help combat oil.
      – I have heard you should be washing your scalp, not your hair, so that’s what I try to do. I apply shampoo to the scalp and roots. Then I try my best to imitate what they would do at a salon – using my fingertips to scrub/massage and putting some gentle pressure into it. The shampoo runs over the rest of my hair as I’m washing so I get shampoo everywhere but it’s concentrated on the scalp and roots.
      – For me, using conditioner and conditioning shampoos seems to help the problem. So I use a light conditioner and rinse very well (cool water). Once a week or so I use a deeper conditioner and again rinse very very well.
      – If you are OK heat treating your hair, using a flat iron also mitigates some of the oil for me, but I don’t do it often.
      – I have also tried a vinegar rinse and that helped some but I didn’t like the smell it left in my hair. If you find a product that you like the smell of, you could give that a try.
      – The hardness of water also seems to have an effect but I don’t know why it does, or how to combat those effects. For example, when I visited France, my hair behaved so much better there. I could go three whole days and it still felt and looked alright. It also behaved better in the last city I lived in, so my hypothesis is it has to do with water hardness. So, if all else fails, move to Paris ;)

  61. Laura H.*

    TMI warning- body fluids

    I wet my pants sometimes, more often at home than in public, thank goodness. It’s unfortunately a Thing I have to deal with.

    I laughed too much and it happened at the end of dinner in a restaurant. I’m still embarrassed. I’m 29… It’s not Normal. I apologized profusely and the staff was really prompt about getting it mopped. Wish I’dve been thinking beyond my embarrassment- I would have given a little extra to the person cleaning it up. (I wasn’t the paying party)

    (I have Cerebral Palsy, that is a considering factor- but sometimes I misjudge my bladder and don’t listen when I first get that thought that I should go)

    How do I not be so embarrassed if it happens in a public place again?

    1. Anon Here*

      Is there anything you could wear that would absorb it, even partially? Or is it rare enough that that wouldn’t make sense?

      I think incontinence is pretty common, but it’s less common for enough to come out that it would be noticeable and would have to be mopped up. Making frequent trips to the bathroom could be another solution. Like every hour, so there isn’t a large volume there.

      But, to answer your question, humor can help. Or talking openly about how embarassed you are. Find a way to connect with people over it instead of it being alienating. We’ve all done embarassing things, within or not within our control. It’s ultimately a way to find common ground.

    2. Jaid*

      Amazon has a lot of different pee absorbing underwear on it’s site. Or Poise/Depends.

      My google-fu says something about biofeedback techniques/exercises to be more aware and/or control the issue.

      Otherwise, all I got is that you should go to the bathroom more often, even if you don’t feel the urge.

    3. Auntie Social*

      There are anti-urgency meds at CVS both OTC and prescription. I don’t take them all the time but I do take them when I’m going out and not sure where the ladies’ is and if I could make it. I am MUCH more relaxed when I have taken one.

      1. Kuododi*

        One thing I would suggest is a quick phone call to your pharmacist to make sure the meds you’re taking would be most effective taken “as needed” or if it’s preferable to follow dosing instructions to get the appropriate level in the blood stream. (ie- as needed vs 2x/daily.). I ran into a similar problem with the Gabapentin I took for carpal tunnel in my hands. I was trying to minimize how much I was taking but lo and behold…I needed to take it 3x/day to get the best coverage. Hope this helps!!!!

    4. Yeah*

      Definitely go when you get the feeling. I am more likely to be rushing to the bathroom if I ignore that first sign.

    5. Perdita*

      Not sure how much the Cerebral Palsy would affect this, but perhaps also consider pelvic floor exercises. I too am a not very old, never been pregnant woman who started to find I was leaking a little bit if I waited until it was urgent.

      Making it a habit to try and do some pelvic floor stuff really helped; I genuinely feel like the muscles are stronger and I can hold it in for much longer comfortably. I know not all of these exercises are created equal, so maybe see if you need something specific to you. I just use the advice as given in this article :D

      bbc. co. uk/news/av/stories-44330578/better-orgasms-and-no-leaks-tips-for-a-strong-pelvic-floor

      1. medsanon*

        Yes this! Plus maybe also a session or so with a pt? It’s really awkward because they stick their hands inside of you while you’re doing the exercises to make sure you’re isolating things correctly, but I found them helpful. I’m not experienced with cerebral parsley, but also ask you doctor about medications. I’ve used both toviaz and oxybutinen and found them literally life changing.

        This really sucks, and it can be hard to find a doctor who takes you seriously. It took me decade to finally find someone who didn’t brush this off as minor and another one before someone thought to suggest pt. I’m also late 20s and people just did not take me seriously because they associate these problems with old or pregnant people. Your GP probably doesn’t see this often enough to be helpful, so look for a specialist. Urologists will at least know what they are looking at, and someone in a maternity practice will be even more helpful. I’m so sorry you have to deal with this. Hang in there!

    6. Not So NewReader*

      A couple of prevention suggestions:
      Dehydration can lead to problems with urgency and leakage. I am not sure how this would apply to someone in your setting, but it’s good info to be aware of. It’s counter-intuitive, if I lack water why would I leak water??? But this can happen.

      Second suggestion, I went through an awful time (to me) in my life where I was so tired I stopped feeling hunger or the need for a bathroom. Somehow I had enough brain space left to figure out this was a problem and I put myself on a bathroom and meal schedule. I think following my schedule pulled me through some pretty bleak days. (Remember I could not feel a full bladder or a full bowel, so my only recourse was to watch the clock and get to the restroom on time. Yes, it was a PITA, but it worked.)

      A good friend has problems like this and the first thing I said to her is that it’s normal to have to go pee every 2-4 hours. This is a good as reference points, my friend is prone to getting lost in the task at hand and forgetting about bathroom breaks entirely. She looks up and it’s six hours later and she wonders why standing up causes her to have to pee. I will say part of my friend’s brilliance comes from getting totally immersed in what she is working on, so it makes sense that bathroom breaks or meals would be secondary to her.

      I’d also suggest trying to get a better handle on things at home and what you learn in that process can be transferred to public settings.

      I guess what I am advocating for is not “how to be less embarrassed” rather more about “how to have less occurrences”.

    7. Alexandra Lynch*

      Pads of some sort, and just make sure you’re empty.
      I’ve had stress incontinence (laughing, coughing, sneezing) and urge incontinence (when you have to go and can’t make it) since the rather explosive birth of my last child. Oddly enough it’s easier to manage if I’m drinking plenty and going often; when I’m trying not to drink so much, I often wind up wetting myself trying to get my clothes out of the way to pee.

      And listen to your body. I finally just got in the habit of going before I left the house, and going at every other stop we made. (Sometimes timed to the store with the nicer restrooms) It just is what it is, and some of us just have to pee a lot.

  62. Hattie McDoogal*

    I’ve seen parkrun mentioned on the running threads on here a few times. I remember a while back checking if my city had one and they didn’t… but I checked again and it seems like one was started earlier this year! So I signed up, and went to my first one this morning. Small turnout (probably due to cold weather) but still a great event, so thanks to all of you for putting the idea in my head.

    How has everyone’s running gone this weekend?

    1. londonedit*

      Hoorah! I’m such a parkrun evangelist,
      I love it!

      And…yesterday I ran a huge 5k PB at my home parkrun! Previous PB from almost exactly three years ago was 25:54 – yesterday a friend paced me and by some miracle I managed to run 24:56! I’ve never in my life run under 25 minutes for 5k, not even on the track, so I am in total shock! I can’t believe I did it!

      So now I get to relax and not worry about running fast for the rest of the year :)

      1. coffee cup*

        Well done! I did my fastest this year too (not as fast as you!) and it made me feel really good. You deserve a reward for yourself. :)

    2. coffee cup*

      I went for a short run this morning, only about half an hour at most. My knee was painful last weekend, so I put the support on and just thought I’d give it a go. Slightly sore, but not too bad. I need to learn some strength training, I think. I’m glad I did it, though it was very cold!

    3. LGC*

      Wish I was out! Still trying to take care of my knee – I haven’t run since last week, which is fine because I’ve probably needed a break for a few months now. I might give things a go tomorrow evening when I get home from work, though. I ended up missing a run through Palisades (on the NJ side of the Hudson), which I’m a bit disappointed by. But that area is literally uphill both ways.

      About the Thanksgiving open (basically, I posted about my neuroses with pacing) – thanks ktelzbeth, Delta Delta, and londonedit! I’m pretty sure that I did my job well enough, in retrospect.

    4. Pam*

      Not running, but walking. I’m up to 5000 steps per day, after spending most of the last two years in a wheelchair. Aiming for 6K next week.

  63. Kuododi*

    Hope this post isn’t too late. Does anyone have suggestions for skin care products to help manage rosacea/post radiation treatment dry skin and the traditional “fine lines and wrinkles.”. I’ve been working with a dermatologist so the medical end is bring addressed. Just looking for products to help support the process. (BTW $$$ is definitely an issue. We’re a one paycheck home for the indefinite future.). Thanks in advance for the help. Blessings!!!

    1. Kuododi*

      To follow-up….I additionally have problems with scented products. I need anything recommended to have a scent free option. Thanks again.

    2. rosy*

      I developed rosacea last year and have been on a journey to find products that help calm and moisturize my skin. It took about 6-8 months but I rarely get flares anymore. I’ve tried a handful of things and have found the following to be the most helpful:

      Daily:
      AM:
      – Cleanse with just water
      – Apply a small amount of CeraVe PM moisturizer (I know, it’s prob not great to use PM during the day but I can’t find a good daytime one that doesn’t aggravate my skin). Let dry.
      – Apply CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream with SPF 30. This is a physical sunscreen. Not sure about you, but chemical sunscreens make my rosacea MUCH worse. In fact, my doctor thinks the chemical sunscreens (avobenzones etc) may have caused my rosacea. This product has very mixed reviews online, but it’s the best physical sunscreen I have found. I rub it together in my hands first before apply to my face in a patting motion.
      – Let dry and then I apply makeup.
      – In case you are looking for makeup I found DermaBlend “Intense Powder Camo Mattifying Foundation” works well and doesn’t make me flare. It’s a bit $$ ($39 for a compact, but one compact lasts me easily 3-4 months of daily use). I apply with an ecotools “full powder” blush.

      PM:
      – Wash face with tepid water and Cerave hydrating cleanser (sometimes I will gently use a washcloth to lightly exfoliate – maybe once every 6-8 weeks). Pat dry.
      – Apply Rosiver (medicated prescription cream). This is covered for me through my benefits, but otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford, it’s VERY $$$ but has helped immensely.

      And that’s it. Occasionally in the thick of winter my skin wants more protection so after the Rosiver dries I’ll apply some CerVe Skin Renewing Night Cream. And I guess, I’m lazy so I only very rarely also use some of the CeraVe Eye Cream and Skin Renewing Serum.

      1. rosy*

        I should add I did several other things that also seemed to help immensely:

        – Use unscented or very gentle soaps and lotions on my hands (so when I touch my face, it doesn’t aggravate the rosacea)
        – Use the CeraVe bar soap in the shower on the rest of my body
        – Switch to environment friendly non-scented laundry soap for all my clothes and linens (including towels). The only times I have had flares recently was in hotels due to their use of bleach on sheets and towels. So I bring my own face towel and pillow case now …
        – I have honey in my tea everyday …. anecdotally this seems to have helped
        – I’m on several supplements from my naturopath to improve immunity … this likely helps too. I was skeptical of naturopathy before, but seems to be one of the biggest helps with my ongoing chronic health stuff.

        A few other products that I like and will still use on my face – just like the list in first comment best as those products are less expensive and work slightly better:
        – The Ordinary Rose Hip Oil
        – Most oils were working well for me on my face (olive, coconut, and jojoba)
        – Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (but DID NOT do well with their facial creams for AM or PM)
        – Riversol line for rosacea
        – Riversol sunscreen (found this a bit thick and sticky, and a bit hard to remove, but looks good on – it’s tinted).

    3. Eeeek*

      Cerave PM lotion others have said it but it’s GREAT. I seriously think it’s the single best skincare product for the money. Often BOGO at Walgreens and often coupons in the Walgreens app! Affordable ~$15 even if no coupon.

  64. eightytea*

    Has anyone here ever tried those 36 questions to fall in love/create a deep sense of emotional intimacy?

    So last Monday the guy that I’d been dating for a couple months dumped me pretty unexpectedly, saying that he felt like something, maybe some sort of spark was missing. I had been feeling a little anxious over the previous couple weeks since I noticed he didn’t seem to be quite as affectionate over text as he had been originally, but he was fine in person so I kept telling myself it was just my anxiety talking. We were seeing each other about twice a week, and he would usually sleep over both times.

    He stressed the whole cliche “it’s not you, it’s me” and said he had been struggling for weeks to try and figure out why he wasn’t feeling anything deeper for me because “you’re all the things I’ve ever wanted in another person.” I had mentioned the week before when we were out that the last guy I had dated (literally just 4 dates) had ended things because there wasn’t a spark, and how I hadn’t really felt one either but thought maybe it would come. But what that guy and I didn’t have was any sort of physical spark; this more recent guy and I definitely had that. When we kissed on our second date, I remember thinking “ah, there’s that spark!” and I slept with him much earlier than I usually would because of it (3rd date). I thought we definitely had an emotional spark too, and tearfully rereading our old texts would confirm that, or show that he was really committed to trying to fake it til he made it.

    I’ve been replaying everything and reflecting, and I think the issue may have been that we got too comfortable with each other too soon. We went from a sort of fun, courting phase, to essentially acting like we were already in an established relationship. Between that and me not wanting to scare him off by seeming too intense/clingy/nosy, we stopped really getting to know each other on a deeper emotional level. So the effect was that when we were together, it was kind of like we were at a slightly flirty, acquaintance level of emotional connection but a relationship level of connection otherwise. In other words, I think the missing thing he was talking about (if that was genuine and not a way to let me down easy) was that deeper emotional connection. I know in his previous relationship, him and his ex had a really intense initial connection and then ended up randomly moving together to a totally new city on a whim like a month later. So I’m thinking that just by the circumstances of that sort of thing, they probably developed that deep emotional intimacy fairly early on.

    Well, I had left some tupperware at his apartment. When he was dumping me I brought it up, since it’s one of the few I have in that size and part of a set, so I can’t easily replace it. I suggested he mail it but he said “no, I’ll bring it to you.” We set tomorrow at 2 as the Official Tupperware Return Time. I’m thinking of seeing how open he is to discussing all this. I’ve come to terms with the very real and maybe likely possibility that it will go something like: “Here’s your tupperware, I tried to wash it but it’s still greasy for some reason.”
    “Oh, that’s okay.”
    “Alright, bye.”

    But my plan if he’s more talkative and open than that is to bring up my theory about stunted deeper emotional intimacy and, if that seems to legitimately resonate with him even after I acknowledge that he’s a people pleaser who may have wanted to let me down easy, see if he wants to try doing the 36 questions. Worst case scenario, it’s awkward, reveals serious incompatibilities, or otherwise doesn’t make us feel closer, and then we’re just in the same place we are now. But at least we gave it a shot, you know? Best case scenario, maybe we decide to keep things going while making more of a conscious effort to prioritize emotional connection and be overall less guarded with each other.

    In a lot of my previous relationships/dating experiences, I was bad at picking. I went after people who were pretty obviously emotionally or physically unavailable. I would push past countless red flags in the name of not being lonely. But after time, therapy, and adopting a dog a couple years ago, I’ve gotten a lot more deliberate about making “healthy choices” when it comes to dating. This guy felt like the pinnacle of that- not only no red flags and super attractive to me, but a lot of “green flags” as well, and a genuinely good, fun person who expressed a lot of early interest (which would have turned me off in the past because like ew, he’s showing interest in me??). I had felt like things were going well (hence feeling a little blindsided), but I did recognize that he felt kind of like a nice, cute stranger at times and chalked it up to us just needing more time to keep getting to know each other.

    So yeah, has anyone ever done the 36 questions? Or has anyone ever done like a new relationship post-mortem like this and had it work out? I’m going into it with no expectations, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to do the questions with him just to see for sure. The idea of having to start dating anew again is just *exhausting.*

    1. valentine*

      Please do the quick handover and let him go. Let him let you down easy. The 36 questions are for beginnings. You have here an end. Let it be.

      1. eightytea*

        I’ve been dumped a LOT. Normally I’m a fan of a clean break, cut all ties. He asked if I wanted to stay friends, I said no. I’ve already cleaned my house of this guy and pretty much thrown away or washed everything he touched. But this time still felt very, very different.

        I honestly think the only reason I’m holding onto any hope here was 1) his insistence that he bring me the tupperware instead of mailing it, specifically setting a time that I would be around so he could hand it over personally. Kind of seems like he legitimately wants to see me again? And 2) before he left we hugged each other and it was honestly one of the best hugs of my life. Like maybe he’s just a good hugger, but it lasted for several minutes, and I was the one who broke away.

        I’m a firm believer that there’s no one perfect person for each of us, and that we could be happy with any number of people given the right circumstances and personalities jiving, so this isn’t just me being like “What if he was the One and we didn’t fight for love??” or whatever. It just seems like a waste not to even attempt to see if maybe this is what he was feeling and see if he was serious when he said he wished he could just fill in the missing piece somehow.

    2. Zona the Great*

      I learned not-early-enough that when a guy asks for an out, give it to him. Not worth the trouble to try to make it work or make sense of it.

    3. OyHiOh*

      I wouldn’t do 36 questions at the end of a relationship. I don’t think it will give you the sense of knowledge or peace that you’re hoping for.

      1. eightytea*

        Have you done the 36 questions with anyone at any stage of a relationship? What was your experience with it?

        1. OyHiOh*

          I haven’t done that specific set of questions but I also have the sort of brain that requires friendship and emotional connection *before* a physical relationship develops and by emotional connection I mean that I’m perfectly willing to take a light comment about “how did you manage not to see ‘popular movie of 1989’????!!!” and turn it into a conversation about my admittedly counter culture childhood, how it made me feel then and now, and what I’m doing different from my parents so that my children do not have a similar experience . . . and then if my partner in crime has not jumped in five different times to add facets from their childhood, I’ll ask a leading question and see where it goes from there. All of that happens well in advance of “dating” and/or “physical relationship”

          With the man I’m seeing now (Neptune for reasons relating to an astonishing photo he took last spring) we started years ago with a cordial working relationship on the board of a community non profit. That evolved into a casual friendship built around a couple of coffee meetings and running into each other occasionally at community events. When my husband died unexpectedly last winter, Neptune’s casual friendship turned into an absolute rock in my support system. I’m genuinely not sure how I would have gotten through the haze of those first months without knowing I could depend on lunch with him every couple weeks. We were literally talking about everything from childhood experiences through to local politics, philosophy, goals, dreams, ambitions . . . we poked around in the corners of our ideas and experiences and shared them, warts and all. A physical relationship has grown out of the friendship as well but it took even longer to blossom. Each of us needed to be sure of our trust in the other before the relationship could grow that way. We’ve joked about being toasty turtles for that reason. Largely independent of each other. Enjoying the time we spend together. In no hurry at all to do things before we’re good and ready.

          My brain works very different from most. I don’t really have a physical type that I prefer and I’ve never had the experience of seeing a body that I just want to roll into bed with. I do have crushes and such but my crushes are of the “OMG, want to get inside that person’s *brain*” sort. I think 36 questions is a really useful guide to the sorts of questions and ideas to explore early in a relationship, as each of you decides if this is a relationship worth pursuing, but I don’t think it’s useful as a post mortem. One of the things I really appreciate about Neptune, that’s worth considering with this guy who dumped you, is seeing if a friendship can grow out of a relationship that didn’t work out. Neptune has remained good friends with several women he had serious relationships with in the past. “It wasn’t easy when we were breaking up and we had to be really intentional about it, but friendship is worth it.” So maybe this guy isn’t relationship, but can be one of your a trusted friend moving forward.

    4. eightytea*

      Just re-read and want to clarify: I would *only* do the 36 questions with him after giving him plenty of outs because I know he’s a people pleaser. I think the only way that would have any capacity to make a difference would be if he did it because he genuinely wanted to and not just because he thought it would make me happy. And I realize that it’s totally possible that I’ve overthought all of this and that maybe he was really just sugarcoating things to let me down easy, so if I sense that he’s like “well, I don’t know if that was it…” I’m going to assume that sugarcoating was the case and just drop it entirely and let him go on his merry way.

      1. Foreign Octopus*

        If he’s a people pleaser then that might explain why he wants to drop the Tupperware off in person rather than post it as it’s a quicker, easier way of getting it to you than just by posting it.

        I have to echo the rest of the advice here and say let this one go.

      2. WellRed*

        You don’t have any outs to give him. He’s already out. Please, please let this go. Best case scenario he does the questions (sounds kinda hokey), sees the light and cancels the breakup. Temporarily. During which time you’ll be waiting anxiously and insecurely for the other shoe to drop. Do you have a friend you can make plans with this afternoon?

      3. Granular*

        He doesn’t want this. He’s told you what he wants. Stop trying to salvage this. I’m sorry, but it’s over. There are no questions here that will resurrect a relationship when one party is already out. He dumped you. You don’t get to renegotiate that after the fact.

        Put your effort and energy into something new. Learn the lessons from this time and carry them forward.

    5. SingleGal:)*

      Oof, I’m so sorry that happened. It feels like such a betrayal when looking back it seems like the person you were dating was faking it to make it work. I’ve been there – pretty recently. Everything you described about the relationship seems very very similar to my last one. I’d strongly encourage you not to ask the questions, or even suggest it. Even if you give him lots of outs, he will likely still say yes and participate in order to feel like the good guy. I’d hate to see you be really vulnerable with him (those questions get intense) and for it to still be over.

      My ex similarly wanted to return some of my things, but it was only in retrospect that I realized it was because he was trying to be a good guy and let me down easy. It had *nothing* to do with wanting to get back together except that he felt guilty it wasn’t working for him, was trying to be nice, and was also sad to be losing me. It’s for sure confusing when the physical chemistry is that good. I still can’t make sense of that for my last one.

      I agree with everyone else on this chain – take the tupperware and say goodbye graciously and leave it at that. Save the 36 questions for the next person that comes into your life. I’d also encourage you to watch some of Matthew Hussey’s videos on YouTube. There’s a great series on “getting the guy back” that really helped me figure out if I wanted to go down that road again and gives some solid tips for how to do that (the first one is no contact for at least 20+ days). Be so kind to yourself. My girlfriend gave me the best advice I ever heard during a breakup, which was to treat yourself like a houseplant – lots of sun, water, and rest.

      Sending so much solidarity! Hope the exchange goes smoothly. And, if you feel like it – let us know how it goes.

      1. eightytea*

        Thank you :)

        The exchange didn’t happen today after all- he texted me to ask if we could do it tomorrow whenever’s most convenient for me instead since he wasn’t feeling well this afternoon. There’s going to be a snowstorm tonight into tomorrow, so we’ll see if/when it happens. I think you might be right about him wanting to be a good guy and potentially going along with whatever he senses is what I want to hear instead of how he feels. Thankfully I’m an attorney with a fantastic poker face, so if I do sense that he wants to chat, I’ll keep any questions open-ended and keep a neutral face.

    6. fposte*

      Another vote for please don’t. In job terms, he’s resigned, and you’re thinking about asking him to do significant work for free. It’s just not fair to him.

    7. Square Root Of Minus One*

      Yeah, better not.
      Been there, done that a lifetime ago. He told me the exact same thing and I wish I believed him. Not letting go robbed me of months if not years of happiness. Clinging is a natural and very common thing, but at the end of the day he decided he wanted out.
      36 questions, especially these ones, is too much. At the very most you might afford one question, exactly this one, and exactly once: “Are you sure about this?” And nothing else if the answer is yes, however meek or unsure it sounds. And even if it’s no… leave him to figure it out.

    8. StellaBella*

      Hi. First, I am very sorry this guy and others have dumped you. I am sorry you are in pain. It is never any fun.

      Second, yes on the 36 questions thing… with the last guy I dated, we did this about a year in to our 3.5 year relationship. At the end of the relationship (Feb 2017) he dumped me. I tried for 2 months to get him to re think this choice. I was desperate, and wrote long (like 10 pages long) letters to him. He mailed me a box of some stuff – all of the heart shaped ornaments we had bought together for the holiday tree – but kept my super nice Henkle knives and my SCUBA flashlight. WTF right? Well… he sometimes still comes up in my sub conscious (two nights ago I dreamt of him), but after nearly 3 years of moving on, therapy, doing my own thing, etc., I am happier overall. I thought we would get married. I thought he was a good person to me. Turns out, we were not matched well on several levels, and I was denying a lot of this in my hopes for marriage and partnership with him. I had to face a lot of my own reality with truth and honesty to my self – which is very hard. For example, I am fairly extroverted and expressive and have a love language of gift giving, touch, and the like – he was introverted and never wanted to discuss things or reciprocate for things like back rubs – turns out dating a person who is very depressed is more difficult when they will not get treatment. I wanted to fix him and wanted him to love me. It was one of the most heartbreaking things for me when he dumped me.

      To be certain, you will likely find another person to date and I hope that you can think of this for a new beginning after some time dating them. It is not a post mortem but a hopeful conversation starter that could help both of you to figure each other out.

      I wish you lots of luck. Maybe take a break from the exhausting side of it that you note, and come back in a few months to the idea of dating.

    9. AvonLady Barksdale*

      Please do not do this. It will drive him far away. It sounds like he wants to be pleasant and mature– he owes you nothing but your Tupperware and politeness. When he ended things, you stopped being entitled to know his feelings.

      I know these things are hard. I have been there. But you know how you feel, right? Well, so does he. Please give him the respect of allowing him to say goodbye.

      I don’t know anything about these questions, but I wouldn’t even touch them unless asked to do so by my long-term partner.

    10. Not So NewReader*

      If the idea of starting over again is exhausting, then take a break from dating. Seriously.
      If one of your reasons for wanting to keep this guy is so you don’t have to start over, that is not a strong enough reason for hanging on.
      Perhaps one of your reasons for feeling exhausted is because you put more into this than he did. It’s fine to expect people to do their share, we don’t have to carry the weight of both parties. It’s also fine to give something to a relationship and then settle back and wait to see what the other person contributes.

      In times of sorrow, sadness, it’s easy for our brains to link odd things together and find hope where there really isn’t any hope. I remember the time my dog got hit by a car. I keep pondering a scenario where the vet called and said, “Oh, I have to tell you something. After you left I was able to revive your dog. She’s right here, you can come get her.”
      On the logical side of my head, I knew this was never, ever going to happen. But my emotional side kept jumping to this imaginary scenario. Why. Well one reason is the relief that scenario provided. When I was thinking of the vet calling me, I was escaping my heartbreak for a moment. So you picture yourself doing these 36 questions and somehow in the process this story has a different ending. It’s a relief from your pain and your heart break.
      Meanwhile, to him you are going to seem kind of … strange. He’s going to be saying, “I just wanted you to have your Tupperware, that’s all.”

      [Sorry if I seem to be likening your former guy to a dog. That’s not my intent, my over-arching point was about how grief plays around with our brains. And boy, can it ever, wow.]

      Perhaps you can find a way to land on, “I love you enough [think enough of you] to place what you want ahead of what I want.” or “Above all else, I want you to be happy in life.”

      1. eightytea*

        Yeah, I’m definitely someone who finds a good thought exercise to be helpful when I’m dealing with anxiety over uncertainties. If I have a plan, I’m in control and I feel safer.

        I definitely wasn’t exhausted from the relationship, and I’m fully prepared and willing to take a break and start over again. My whole epiphany about deeper emotional connections came days after the dumping, after I had already cried my tears and was getting over it. This isn’t about not wanting to let this person go just because I liked “having” a person or trying to hold onto something that’s clearly dead, it’s about checking a pulse. I want both of us to be happy, even if that’s with other people, but something about this break-up feels different enough for me that I feel like it could be worth it to at least *ask* if he noticed the same thing missing.

    11. Nervous Nellie*

      Oh, dear. If it were me, I would absolutely not do this. This fellow doesn’t owe you an exit interview, and I don’t think you would get the closure you are seeking from his answers. The 36-question plan really isn’t meant for this. Both parties have to be really enthusiastic about it. Think about it – it’s a LOT of questions that take a LOT of time, and it asks questions that require a lot of personal disclosure. If you do it as written, it also requires the parties to maintain four minutes of unbroken staring at each other! That is a lot of pressure. Someone who is only politely dropping off tupperware could feel trapped & resentful about it, but too polite to object.

      Amazing advice columnist Captain Awkward (captainawkward dot com) has a few variations on this theme in her current post, “It Came from the Search Terms: Cold November Wind”. You might check it out for some more advice.

      Yes, starting over with someone new would be exhausting, but maybe that’s the sign that a break from dating would be comfort, for now. I wish you the best, and admire you for giving the plan some thought, and being open to suggestions.

      1. eightytea*

        I’ll have to check out that Captain Awkward post!

        I clarified in an earlier comment, but to be clear, I am NOT seeking closure from the 36 questions. I think “post mortem” was definitely the wrong way to phrase it, haha. I would only even broach the topic of the 36 questions, let alone actually doing them, if he seemed genuinely on the same page about both a deeper emotional connection missing and wanting to see if we could still forge one at this point.

        I’ve been dumped enough and helped enough friends through breakup that I know the idea of closure is one-sided and ultimately useless. Honestly, I kind of just want to know how he felt when he left my house Monday night, if he felt relieved or like he had made a mistake. I think the answer to that will tell me everything I want to know about moving forward giving any details about my deep connection theory at all.

        1. Becky H*

          He doesn’t owe you that information. It’s none of your business. You are trying to rules-lawyer your way into finding a way to keep this relationship alive even though he’s told you he’s done. Please, respect his decision and let it go. This is just sad.

          1. eightytea*

            No one owes anyone any information. I have not suggested at any point that I feel entitled to any explanation or that I necessarily want this to go on. I had a hunch about what might have been missing, and I’m thinking about bringing it up if that’s where the conversation- if there is one at all, which I pointed out might not even be likely- heads on its own.

            I’ve purged my house and my life of him otherwise, so I really don’t appreciate all the assertions that I’m some clingy sad lady who just wants to make a man who flat out rejected her come back. That’s absolutely not what this was about, but it must read that way.

      2. eightytea*

        Great advice from Captain Awkward: “The things you learned from this relationship are valuable and constructive – for you – to take into your romantic future. Sometimes insight has to be its own reward, you don’t need to have an exit interview. Take your insights to your friends/therapist/diary/bartender. Sing sad songs at karaoke.” That’s definitely what I plan on doing regardless. I’m going to play any questioning (generally, not the 36 questions specifically) by ear and let him lead on that. If he’s not talkative, if he doesn’t seem to want to stray beyond small talk, then I’m not going to push.

    12. Clever Name*

      I’ll echo the others and say please don’t do this. It feels like you’re trying for a Hail Mary play to save your relationship, and I’m sorry but it’s over. Honestly, I Also think doing those questions early in the relationship feels hokey and forced. I realize that in an experiment they made people feel closer, but as artificial as dating (especially online dating) can feel, you can’t hack intimacy. I’m so sorry this relationship didn’t turn out how you wanted. Getting broken up with suuuuucks.

    13. Lilysparrow*

      Leave it.

      I read your replies in the comments. If he thought he’d made a mistake breaking up, he will bring it up. You won’t have to. Don’t ask how he felt when he was leaving on Monday – you’d be putting him in a terrible position where he has no option except to lie or hurt you. Forcing someone into that choice is just mean to both of you.

      Anything you do to try to initiate a deeper connection will be artificial, unsatisfactory and counterproductive. He may be willing to go along with it just to be nice, but all it will do is increase your emotional investment. It will not increase his.

      Obviously he doesn’t have a problem using his words to tell you what he wants, because he used his words to tell you he was ending the relationship. If he changed his mind, he can use his words and tell you so.

      There is nothing to be gained by trying to create an emotional connection with someone who told you in plain English he does not want one.

      1. Lilysparrow*

        Oh, and as far as him being a different kind of person, after you had a string of bad picks? I went through this as well, and picking better still doesn’t mean you picked a keeper. Because you aren’t the only one who gets to pick.

        That was hard for me to learn, too – that I could pick a better guy and still have it not work out, because he decided (nicely, politely) not to pick me.

  65. Ikeahelp*

    So I ordered the Hektor Wall sconce from Ikea and was just installing them … realized that I didn’t get the lightbulbs. Ikea websites lists a very special type. Wondering if I need to use that specifically as I have to mail order it (no Ikea in my city). Anyone know what 7W translates to in regular bulbs if I went to a hardware store tomorrow?

    Also wondering if it’s a terrible idea to use Command strip picture hanging strips for these sconces? I’m a renter …. and I hung one sconce with screws, but it not only looks bad, but left big holes in the wall (plaster). So I’m thinking i’ll take that one down and rehang both with the command strips?

    1. fposte*

      If it’s the Hektar wall/clamp spotlight, it looks like it has a socket for an E17 base. That’s smaller than most US bulb bases (some fans have bulbs like this), so you’d need to make sure you get an E17. Max 7 watts suggests that you need to stick to LED/fluorescent since an incandescent would run too hot. It looks like the fixture may be dimmable so you’d need to get a bulb that can be dimmed–not all LEDs can. R14 is a shape code for the bulb–it’s like an old incandescent bulb got trash compacted, basically, since it’s flatter and wider. Probably the A15 shape (the usual bulb form for that base) would work okay as well.

  66. Anonymous SO*

    I don’t really have a good place to ask this, so here I am.

    I had a dream that my current SO, who I’ve been with for over 5 years, asked me to marry. This is like a major goal of mine and something I’ve been talking about with them for quite a while.

    So dream-me was asked to marry (my subconscious did it extra crappily with “I want to ask you those four words you’ve been waiting for”). And dream-me hesitated answering. I woke up before I ever got a chance to answer, but the question and my hesistance has stuck with me for days when I usually don’t remember my dreams.

    I haven’t been super thrilled with our relationship lately. SO is working and spending time with their immediate family more than I see them. Do I look at this more or just “huh that’s a crazy dream” and move on?

    1. Lena Clare*

      I love dreams! To me they’re a message from our inner selves. It’s interesting to me that you say you don’t normally remember your dreams but you remembered this one; then you ask if you should forget it?

      I say it’s a message to look at your relationship more. It doesn’t mean you’ll split up – I can hear that’s what you’re worried about, and if you look more closely maybe you’ll find other things you don’t like, which can be disturbing.

      That doesn’t mean you have to pay attention to the dream of course. You can decide that it might be meaningful but that you don’t want to look at it just yet. That is up to you. Whatever you decide is ok!

    2. Mimosa Jones*

      The thing to keep in mind is that dreams are imperfect messengers. You’d appreciate closed captions of what’s going on and the deeper meaning, but dreams are more of a bizarre art film that sometimes says, “hey, look at this!” In your case, I think it’s worth thinking about your relationship and the dream, especially if you have another one on the same topic.

    3. PX*

      I like Mimosa’s framing that dreams are imperfect messages. Personally, I do tend to find that if I’m under some kind of extra ‘something’ whether that is work stress, life stress, emotional stress or whatever, my dreams will reflect this to varying degrees. And for me they are sometimes the thing that makes it super clear to me that things I’ve been ignoring are actually affecting me.

      So I would say take it as a starting point to reflect on your relationship, where it is now, and what – if anything – you think needs adjusting.

    4. HannahS*

      Dreams, to me, are your brain’s way of processing stuff, and things get mushed and scrambled. On the one hand, mine often reflect my anxieties back to me. On the other hand, I once went to bed delighted after an evening with my fiance and woke up disturbed by a dream where I cheated on him with Danny Devito. Did it reflect a desire to sleep with Danny Devito, or otherwise be unfaithful? It assuredly did not. But maybe I had a worry about losing my fiance.
      So maybe it was meaningless–but it’s got you thinking about things you’re not happy with. That’s worth talking about, without bringing up your dream.

    5. Countess Boochie Flagrante*

      It’s worth mulling over. When my engagement was heading downhill, well before I admitted to myself that it was, I started having ferocious recurring dreams about being forced into a marriage I didn’t want. That was definitely a cue from my subconscious. The details were all jumbled up and surreal, but the underlying theme of being forced was loud and clear, and made a good cue for me to ask myself if I wanted to marry this person, or if I only felt like I had to because the minute the question pops, social pressure to say yes and get married kicks in like a ton of bricks.

    6. Lilysparrow*

      I think it’s less about your SO, or even about your relationship directly, and more about marriage being “a major goal.” Perhaps you are questioning whether marriage – or marrying this person – is still a goal by itself. That may or may not be a reflection on your relationship. It could be a reflection of how you have changed as a person over the last five years.

      Marrying them may still wind up being a great thing. But is it an end goal, or just one option in a bigger picture?

      Personal editorial commentary that may or may not be relevant to you: I take words very literally. The word “propose” means to suggest a course of action, to bring up a topic for possible agreement. So I have trouble envisioning how multiple conversations about the goal of marriage with a person are different from “a proposal”. To my way of thinking, whoever opens the topic of whether the other person wants to get married has already proposed marriage. And if you didn’t get a yes, then you got a no.

      I realize that other people have certain ideas of what a formal proposal should be in terms of specific actions or words or context, but to my way of thinking, “do you want to do this” or “this is my goal, do you agree” are just as much a proposal as anything that happens with a ring on bended knee.

      So if you have repeatedly asked this person over the last five years when/if they want to get married, and you have not gotten an enthusiastic “yes” with a time commitment, perhaps the idea of finally convincing them to say yes to you is starting to lose its appeal?

      Or perhaps, to put it in a less-dire way, the idea of a formal proposal is less important to you than it once was – perhaps it would not be as dramatic of an emotional moment, because the course of the relationship has been more gradual. So perhaps the idea of the “four words you’ve been waiting for” just isn’t as magical as you once imagined it to be.

  67. Anon woman with breast cancer*

    Good Sunday morning from a place that is having snow-rain-slush today and it is just bordering 32F.

    Happy to share that my body is tolerating chemo pretty well still and I have one more of these drug cocktails mid December. Then a break til January for Taxol which my onco said is much easier to tolerate.

    As a lifelong tree hugger, getting tree medicine is exciting, as Taxol comes from the Pacific Yew tree. :) I will make sure that I hug many trees over this next few months in appreciation for the helpful medicine.

    Hope everyone had a nice thanksgiving if celebrated where you are and sending everyone good vibes for a great December ahead.

    1. Breast Solidarity*

      I did a lot of literal tree hugging, including local yews, this year while on docetaxel! Tried to walk in the woods every day (now in the dark part of the year and with big snowstorm I am stuck with indoor exercise for now though)

      Solidarity!

      1. Anon woman with breast cancer*

        Sorry you are stuck indoors but am so glad to read this! :) Thank you for the solidarity too! And I hope the snow is at least beautiful!?!

        1. Breast Solidarity*

          Snow is beautiful! But waiting for the main event today. Unfortunately I did get a peripheral neuropathy from the chemo so am unsteady on my feet so slippery ground is my enemy. Am hoping the neuropathy is temporary.

          I am glad there is another tree-hugger here :)

    2. NoLongerYoung*

      sending a gentle hug. There’s a Japanese concept called “forest bathing” that I think you’d like. For me (near the Sierras), it is healing. (So is underwater, scuba heals me, too). Body and soul.

      Thinking of you and wishing warmth and joy through the season.

  68. Hope the siblings never see this*

    There’s a story in my family that in the 1960s my mother wanted to become a social worker. Her father (my grandfather) knew a sociology professor and took my mother to meet him. The professor told her that she would take everything home with her and she shouldn’t do it. (She ended up going into teaching and teaching in some terrible schools, fwiw.)

    I was totally ok with this story until I was talking to an actual social worker who was highly skeptical about this story. And then I started thinking about it. And now I think that the guy was talking sh!t and quite possibly pretty sexist.

    I tried to talk to her about it once and she is very invested in the idea that she’s Too Sensitive For This World now so I won’t bring it up again, but it really annoys me that she let go of a dream based on meeting one guy for like an hour. Not blaming her for it… it just sucks that she was manipulated like that. My grandparents were lovely grandparents but the older I get the more i find out and think critically and the more I think they were awful parents.

    1. Agnodike*

      You have no idea how this interaction went. Don’t make yourself angry over hearsay from 50 years ago. Maybe your mom found out what would be involved in becoming/working as a social worker, felt like it would be too much, but told the story like she was warned off to save face – plenty of people do that. Maybe the guy was a huge sexist jerk and said “better stay home, little lady.” You’ll never know.

      1. IntoTheSarchasm*

        Things were very different then, who knows? I though I wanted to be a music therapist until I shadowed one working with some kids with significant disabilities and I realized then and there it wasn’t for me – my heart hurt too much.

      2. coffee cup*

        It seems to me that OP would likely have a feeling about what her mum might do or how she might have reacted, and how she told the story. Of course they’ll never *know*, but they can speculate and feel sad that things went a different way from how they turned out.

        1. Agnodike*

          None of us knows our parents as well as we think we do. OP’s mother’s past belongs to her, not to OP.

          1. coffee cup*

            We can know that and still feel something about it. Sometimes just getting it out and acknowledging it can be helpful in itself.

    2. Seeking Second Childhood*

      Tldr; Please target your anger on the system not its victim.
      In the 40s my mom was driven out of a high school chemistry class: The TEACHER lit a Bunsen burner behind her, close enough to light her hair on fire and in the followup told her he never wanted her in his class because girls don’t belong there. When she told her mother she needed the class for nursing, Nana said she could not be a nurse anyway because it was dirty to want to see naked men. Lack of support from home broke her. Telling me 40 years later, she was visibly sad. She sighed, “I would have been a very good nurse.”
      I was my family’s youngest, and even in the 80s having been told I could do whatever I wanted, I got…unintentionally strong feedback that pushed me in a traditional direction. Praised for everything humanities… lukewarm response at best for any triumphs in math & science. Even though mom knew it was inconsistent, because it’s what led to her telling me about her dreams of being a nurse. I think she internalized more than she wanted.
      There were many more -isms at play than just sexism. Social work in the 60s would have an added nasty layer of issues with poor people, “colored people” (including black, Asian & Indians both Native American and Indian subcontinent), people who are a disparaged religion, and people who need social work are defective or deraved or just plain bad in some way “dontcha know”?
      It took a very strong person to stand up to all that. And the ones who wanted to do something the system didn’t approve of, who got talked out of their passion? They were also victims.
      I didn’t realize until I was unable to cut down this reply how strongly I feel on the issue.

    3. lasslisa*

      I would also encourage you not to put too much weight on the her retelling of this one conversation. She obviously heard something there that rang true to her, or made sense with what she knew of herself, and burnout or “carrying the work home with you” is common enough among all kinds of emotional/helping professions (including teaching) that it wouldn’t be unreasonable to mention. It doesn’t mean the professor said it to her as a guarantee – just that that’s the conclusion she took away from the conversation. It sounds like you’re saying she still thinks it wouldn’t have worked for her, rather than feeling like she was pressured or tricked, so I’d let it go.

      But your description of her makes me wonder if you’re annoyed with her lack of gumption/independence/skepticism more generally? I’d focus on what it is that’s bothering you in the present and see if you can refine your concerns a bit.

      1. Washi*

        Yeah, I was wondering why this is hitting home so much. Has your mom always seemed unhappy, and you imagine that if she had pursued this path, that she would have enjoyed her life more?

        I don’t think it’s a good idea to get too caught up in the could-have-beens. Your mom made her choice (and it was a choice – as someone in the social services field, “you take it home with you” is a pretty mild description of what can be overwhelming secondary trauma) and pursued another rewarding but difficult career instead. This sounds like a pretty common outcome.

    4. coffee cup*

      You said you wouldn’t bring it up again, but would it be possible to explore it further? Is it that she’s upset to talk about it? It might be helpful to chat if you can, just so you have a deeper discussion and understand the situation (and can then see how you feel about it).

      If not, it can be helpful to try to separate the feelings and relationship you have with your grandparents from the one your mother has with them (even one you’re not sure about). I’m only now trying to do that with my dad and my mum… my dad wasn’t good to my mum but I’m trying to sustain my own relationship with him, and the only way I can do that is to ‘box off’ what I know about their relationship, at least when I’m interacting with him.

      I get you!

    5. Not So NewReader*

      I spent over a decade in human services, but not social work specifically.

      Yeah, it went home with me every night. FWIW, it went home every night with the men who worked there also.

      I am not seeing anything sexist here. The amount of human suffering that an employee sees in one day is staggering. I am near tears just looking back on it. I cannot imagine any human being doing this work and going home with no further thought about what had transpired during the day. There were very few days where I did not worry about ending up in the ER.

      Additionally, there is a story of a woman who called in sick to work. Her friend took over her cases for the day. The friend was killed by the person they went to see that day. And it happened on the street, in broad day light with people milling about. The first woman died a few years later, I think her grief/guilt got her.

      It’s realistic that you may have not included some additional context that would change my response here. Or there could be something here I am misunderstanding that is also a possibility.

      I’d recommend talking to more than one social worker or anyone in human service. Additionally, I would recommend checking out news articles regarding low staffing and on-the-job injuries/abuse etc due to low staffing. It’s not good now, but it was even worse back then. We used to have running commentary, “I came here to make a difference, I ended up just being another cog in the mechanism.”

      Again, it could very well be that I am missing something here. And it could be that even with this point taken off the table that your grandparents were indeed rotten parents because of Other Reasons. I don’t wish to negate that point, either.

    6. Not A Manager*

      If all it took was one short conversation with one person for her to give up her dream, I imagine there was a LOT more pre-existing ambivalence on her part than you’re crediting.

    7. Observer*

      I’m basing my response only on what you’ve said- if there is more context I can’t say what I would say.

      I think you are jumping way to quickly to blame. Your grandparents may not have been doing anything nefarious or trying to manipulate your mother, nor is there anything here that indicates bad parenting. Connecting your kid to someone you think should know what they are talking about is not bad parenting – it’s an attempt to help your kid.

      As for the professor, again, it’s hard to know. It could have been sexism, something he saw in your mother (you say she’s invested in the idea of being “too sensitive for the world”), other *ism’s, his own burnout, or any combination thereof.

      1. fposte*

        And social work was a hugely female-dominated field in the 1960s, so if it was sexism, it was likely to be that individual professor’s. I’m another who thinks it’s possible that this point resonated with your mother in a particular way and she made an informed decision, rather than this single discouragement blocked her from a dream career.

    8. Asenath*

      She may not have been manipulated and your grandparents may not have been awful – actually, setting your mother up for getting advice from someone in a related field may have been a good idea. Whether or not your mother would have been suited for a career in social is something I certainly don’t know – your mother may not even know, since she didn’t go into it. It can be a very rewarding field; it can also be a very emotionally demanding one that not everyone can handle. Everyone gets advice about their future when they’re young – I’m sure every family has similar stories. Sometimes the advice is good, sometimes it’s bad. When it’s bad, it’s not usually because the advice-giver was sexist or manipulative or something like that. The advice-giver might be misinformed (Someone advised a sister that one field she was thinking about would never accept women. A few years later, they did. Not sexism, simply someone who didn’t see into the future too well and assumed it would be the same as the then-present.). The adviser might not know the student well, or really understand the demand of the field, especially if it’s only related to what they do. It’s up to everyone, you, your mother, me, everyone, to make up our own minds based on whatever advice we want to accept. Sometimes our decision will be wrong, so then we pick up ourselves up and make another one. And few if any of us end up following dreams for a lifetime. Another relative of mine was directed away from what she originally dreamed of training for because she didn’t have the academic qualifications. I suppose she could have gotten the qualifications eventually. She decided instead to take another path and had a long and happy life anyway and no one, least of all her, worried that she hadn’t been able to follow her initial dream. Let go of the decisions others made years ago and the advice they were based on. It’s done, it’s over, they probably did the best they could and even if they regretted some of their choices, there’s no point in brooding over long ago stories you’ll never have all the information on.

    9. Lilysparrow*

      You know your mother. Is she a mentally tough and resilient person with strong emotional boundaries and plenty of support to draw on in order to process difficult experiences?

      If so, it’s actually kind of surprising she would be dissuaded from a dream based on the word of one guy.

      If not, then he was right and a career like that would have been extremely toxic to her, and possibly not very good for the people she was trying to help either.

      You may be 100 percent correct that this was entirely about manipulation and sexism. But it’s not at all uncommon for experienced people in a tough field to try to dissuade young people from entering it – because the people who are really cut out for it will not be easily dissuaded. And those who are easily dissuaded are simply not cut out for it.

      Teaching in terrible schools is a hard job, and it’s awesome that your mom showed up for those kids. But as hard and scary as teaching can be, social work is 10x more intense. If the teaching was a struggle for her, maybe she found the level of how much she could take. And it’s admirable that she was willing and able to serve that way.

  69. Only child?*

    Any only children? How do/did you like not having siblings? I realized I likely only wanÿ one kid.

    1. LGC*

      It depends! I’ll be honest and say that I always wanted a sibling but other only children are totally happy.

      Your kid (or kids) will be fine.

    2. Grace*

      I’m an only child and it’s great.

      Admittedly, if I complained about how terrible it was after my parents’ near-decade-long infertility journey, that would make me a terrible person – they would definitely have had more than one if they could – but it’s 100% what’s best for me.

      I played with kids at school, I could go round to their houses if I wanted, but I preferred staying at home to read or play independently. It was my introvert alone time. If I didn’t have that ability, to come home from school and completely switch off, I think it would have made life much harder. An extroverted only child can fill their days with activities, but an introverted child with siblings seems to have a hard time of it.

      Some people with siblings seem to take great offence to me saying that I like being an only and don’t want siblings; hell, some only children who want siblings take offence at it. I’m not devaluing their relationships or their desire for those relationships – but I don’t want it for myself. I never have. My parents’ final IVF attempt after I was born sealed the deal for me remaining an only, and when I was five or six my mum asked me if I ever wanted a little brother or sister so that she could tell me it wasn’t going to happen. My immediate response was “No, not really.”

      I like my little nuclear family, I like how my parents are some of my closest confidantes and how I feel like I can tell them anything, I like how I never have to worry that my parents are taking time away from someone else when I ask it of them, I like how I always had my own space and my own time and no obligation to spend time with anyone. And yes, the financial benefits are nice, but they always took a great deal of care to not make me spoiled in any way, so that never really became an obvious benefit until university.

    3. Square Root Of Minus One*

      I’m an only child as well.
      My parents split before my mom knew she was pregnant: without previous kids in existence the question of siblings was sealed even before I was born.
      As an introvert kid, I appreciated the calm. I had a younger cousin and boy am I glad we didn’t share space permanently as kids, and I turned out okay I guess. As an adult, to be perfectly honest, I sometimes wonder about “what could have been” and kind of wish I knew what it’s like. But yet, I wonder about a lot of things.

    4. Only Child*

      I am an only child and I don’t mind it, though I don’t love it, but I do have a very strong fear/anxiety about going through my parents aging by myself. When my grandparents got sick and eventually died, I saw how much my dad relied on his sisters and it was clear to me that it will be really, really hard on me to do alone. I also think about how I’d love for my future children to have aunts and uncles and cousins on my side, and get a little sad when I think about the fact that they won’t.

    5. Meepmeep*

      I’m perfectly happy being an only child. I’m a quiet solitary type who is happiest without too much noise and distraction, and I think I would have had a much harder childhood if I had a sibling.

    6. Jdc*

      There’s good and bad to it just as there is good and bad to having more than one. I missed the sibling relationship. I did get a lot more one one time with my parents. I’m probably a bit of a spoiled princess since sharing wasn’t something I had to do and everything was for me. Actually, not probably haha.

    7. Seeking Second Childhood*

      My brother and sister are much much older than me so I might as well have been an only child with aunt and uncle. I was fine. Just pick a place to live where there are other kids in the neighborhood. Your kid goes to those houses, their kids come to your house, and all those social interaction sibling lessons come from the neighborhood kids.

    8. lasslisa*

      It’s fine. You learn how to talk to adults more, and I think more emotional self-regulation and ability to entertain yourself. More able to pursue your own interests without an older sibling to compete with or feel bad next to.

      Slightly lower chance of you getting grandchildren, but it doesn’t sound like you’re really trying to optimize for number of offspring anyway.

    9. RMNPgirl*

      I love being an only child. My parents are two of my best friends, we talk every day and love spending time together as a family. I think the most important thing with an only is daycare, to get that socialization started before kindergarten.

      Also, just because someone has siblings doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. I have friends whose kids fight constantly. My mom’s brother did nothing for the family. Some people already mentioned the concern about handing aging parents as an only child; well my mom’s brother did nothing and she did everything so she basically was an only child.

      1. Meepmeep*

        Yeah, my father has a sister whom he’s cut off contact with 30 years ago. Having siblings is not a guarantee of anything.

    10. Not So NewReader*

      Not a fan.

      I have a friend who divides only children into two groups: spoiled or abused.
      That kind of ticks me off also, as life is not that straightforward.

      I had a lot of adult inputs which initially put me ahead of my peers in some ways. I wasn’t afraid to strike up a conversation with an adult when others were. I wasn’t worried about fitting in with adults the way others were worried. I see this in other only children also.

      My parents were pretty strict, so that made things rougher than need be. But skipping that part, the end was incredible. I found myself at age 20 bouncing between two hospitals spoon feeding two dying parents. Everything fell to me, I was putting in 20-22 hour days trying to keep up with everything.

      I think you will probably be a fine, fine parent. So that is not a concern to me. I want to caution you that if you do have one kid, try to remain self-sufficient as long as possible and make plans for when you no longer can be self-sufficient. Communicate with that adult child on a regular basis what your plans are and what your wishes are- be very clear and very open. Write things down. Even obvious things. Organize your personal information and lock it away where the adult child can find it. (Don’t hide your SS# like my parents did. I could not even fill out medical forms for those bills that were coming in at 5-7K per week. Today that would be double or triple the dollar amount. )

      I think it is fine as long as the parent takes extra steps along the way, with a high awareness of what it might be like to be the child in the story.

      1. lasslisa*

        Do this even if you have multiple kids – a sibling won’t help you suddenly learn your parents’ SSN or any other information they’ve hidden away.

    11. Washi*

      My husband is an only child and will happily tell everyone that he loved it! One of his parents is also an only, so he grew up getting lots of attention from that side of the family.

      To throw in my own two cents, sometimes I wish my husband had a sibling just to distribute his parents’ neediness a little. His parents want us to go over all the time and spend every holiday with them, and that’s just not always possible. But I think as the parent in that situation, you can make sure to keep in mind not making your adult child your whole world, but accepting that if you only have one, they may go off and do their own thing and that’s ok.

      1. TL -*

        Yeah I’m not an only (and I really am glad I have siblings!) but in college the majority of my only friends really struggled with realistic expectations of adults – there was a lot of “If I’m good and work hard, I’ll get whatever I ask for,” and genuine confusion when that turned out not to be the case. (One of my friends asked her professor to let her take the final early because she had a 4.0 and professor said no and friend’s reaction was “Isn’t she just the silliest person to not do this for me? I have a 4.0! I would never cheat!”) I think a lot of it was not seeing the work that adults put in behind the scenes and expecting a much higher level of personalized attention from authority figures in general.
        But I’m 30 now and don’t see this in my only friends anymore. So I expect they grew out of their only things as I grew out of my sibling things.

        1. Washi*

          Huh, I actually haven’t seen only children themselves be more entitled than those with siblings. The pattern I’ve noticed is more parents of only children having only one outlet for close family time, which can be a bit intense.

          That said, when I think about friends who have married only children, the only children don’t have a problem with all the parental attention and find it normal. Including my husband – he finds his parents annoying at times, but to him it’s normal to have them so focused on him. It’s those of us with siblings who feel stifled by proxy. So maybe it’s the siblinged children with the problem here :)

    12. Anony Mouse*

      Yes, only child. Except, not exactly by choice. Older brother lost in stillbirth and I came along by surprise 3 years after.

      I loved being an only at age 5 because others’ siblings pooped in the tub (I heard so many stories from kids my age) and I was a fastidiously clean kid. However, with both parents working, I remember crying because I was alone except for my grandmother who didn’t speak English, couldn’t drive, and stayed housebound 24/7 all summer—I cried because my Barney dinosaur doll wouldn’t come to life and save me from extraordinary loneliness. I envied my friends who had sisters when I was 14. I envied my cousins who traveled to Europe together as a bonding experience. Me? I came to Europe all alone on scholarship for a year, my parents never visited me; luckily I made so many local friends and found a boyfriend (even though that didn’t last, I had incredible memories of going to Slovakia and other countries with him). Being an only makes me exhausted when I hang out with large crowds. I need alone time to recharge. It’s made me work harder on finding new friends and maintaining ones I have. It kills me that when my parents go, I’m on my own. TG for hubs and the kitty and lifelong friends. (I’ve/my mom got judged by an ex-roommate for my being an only child—roomie had 3 older brothers. But I can’t help being an only child with a stillborn brother any more than she could control her brothers’ births).

  70. Can I get a Wahoo?*

    Cat question: my cat is incredibly tactile with me. She hasn’t stopped scent marking me since I got home from a trip last night., and she usually rubs herself on me a bunch even if she wasn’t missing me for a few days. Problem is, she works herself up and then bites me. I can’t figure out what I can do to stop it, because it’s not like I’m going after her for pets—most of the time she’s petting me with her head! Before I left she was running my face with her head and then suddenly bit my face. I try and grab her by the scruff and give a deep “no” but it doesn’t seem to stick. Any thoughts on why she might be biting like this, and how to stop it?

    1. lasslisa*

      I hear it can be helpful to shriek / squeal when they bite or scratch too hard, because that’s how their litter mates would teach them what but to do.

      I’d suggest some other cuddly things she can rub against, knead, cuddle, and groom (grooming often includes some chewing as well as licking, at least if my cats are anything to go by).

    2. KR*

      My cat does this too. I eventually became able to sense when she was getting overwhelmed and disengaged, even though she still wanted to love on me and wasn’t done. I felt bad but she would often go cool off, and then come back calmer and not as worked up.

    3. Animal worker*

      Also try to build shorter, positive tactile interactions and end before the biting. Once you can have short and calm sessions gradually increase the duration. Using a verbal ‘calm’ or ‘easy!’ in a soft voice can also help. Avoid letting her rehearse the unwanted behavior.

      Try to also look for behavioral precursors that happen before the biting as another sign of when you should end the interaction before it goes south.

      My cat can get overstimulated like this too and these have helped me. If I do miss it and she starts I’ve had more success with a verbal reaction (ow, or stop, or whatever) but intentionally freezing my movements. If I pull back or try to do something punishing like pushing back or anything it seems to make it worse, but if I go calm she usually stops right away.

      So avoid her doing it if possible and if she does a calm response can be better than a forceful one.

    4. Animal worker*

      One additional thought is to increase the high energy playtimes where she can ‘attack’ wand toys, stuffed animals, etc. to give her another outlet for more aggressive/rough interactions.

  71. HannahS*

    HannahS is getting married and needs your advice! –a semi-regular thread. This week, venues!

    How did you choose a venue? What wound up being important/unimportant? What were the pros and cons of different types of places? As a guest, what do you value in the location/setting of a wedding? For the Jews in the room, we’re having kosher catering…how does it even work with a venue? Would we have to pay to kasher it? (Also, general unsolicited advice is welcome.)

    1. heckofabecca*

      I went with my childhood synagogue, which was central to where I was living and where most of the rest lived. Other important features: all one level, plenty of parking, AIR CONDITIONED (summer wedding), no weird separate entrance for wheelchairs etc, pleasant venue with plenty of room to move around/dance/etc. We were limited to 12 kosher caterers, so we picked the cheapest that was still good. :) I don’t know how it’d work to have to kasher a kitchen, but it might be worth it to consider the cost of a synagogue wedding vs. non-synagogue + kosher catering.

      I never considered other venues, personally, but my best friend’s wedding was at a vegetarian restaurant with a nice indoor patio for the ceremony (her wedding was fairly small) and my brother’s was at a converted Newport mansion (his was fairly large). Personally I dislike outdoor weddings—I’m too distracted by wind, weather, squinting sun, walking in grass… etc.

      Overall the big considerations:
      – for considering initial area: what area is most convenient for the most people?
      – for considering specific venue: parking? transit (if applicable)? accessibility? climate control?

    2. Bluebell*

      Great points from Becca. I was also going to say mobility is important and size of the venue. There are hotels that advertise working with kosher caterers, and that may make your life more easy. And yes, synagogues are an obvious choice. Sometimes if you are in a college town there may be a big hillel and they have a kitchen that works well with kosher caterers.

    3. lasslisa*

      Ask your caterer. Some set up their own mobile kitchens or transport the food hot and just use Sterno type cans for warming in the buffet line. If they aren’t using the venue kitchen then it wouldn’t need to be kosher.

    4. heckofabecca*

      Additional suggestions, some of which align with a Jewish wedding if you’re having that:

      – Have appetizers BEFORE the ceremony [while you’re in separate rooms?], this will keep people satisfied during the ceremony and not overstuffed for actual dinner/lunch/whatever. Plus it gives people time to filter in for the first half-hour or however long.
      – If you already have a date/time settled, ignore this! // I really enjoyed my Sunday daytime wedding. Children and babies and anyone with an early bedtime or Sunday evening flight was perfectly capable of coming for the important bits!
      – This is dependent on your style/preferences, but I just told my bridal party (which was just my best friend and my sisters-in-law) not to wear [color I hate]. Everyone just… looked themselves. And didn’t have to buy anything. (Except probably my super pregnant SIL…) ex) https://imgur.com/a/6xdAFvZ
      – If you will be having any elements not everyone is familiar with (i.e. breaking glass, chuppah, etc), put a glossary in your wedding program (and thank the venue/caterer in the program too).
      – Do NOT serve plain white rice. XD

    5. Cheesesteak in Paradise*

      Accessibility is a big deal for guests especially since weddings tend to have people of all ages and abilities from the families.

      -minimal or no stairs or ramp options
      -bathroom with large stall on main floor
      -plenty of seating during ceremony and reception and in between (don’t be one of those couples that provide like 10 chairs during a 30 min ceremony!)
      -acoustics to some extent so people can hear the vows and the toasts

      Other guest concerns:
      -ceremony/reception gaps – don’t leave people with hours to kill in the middle of the day, better to have a cocktail hour you miss that guests can attend while you do photos
      -transport and parking
      -location that overall people can get to fairly easily

    6. Lives in a shoe*

      We chose a lovely little park with a beautiful view of the mountains and just rented some chairs. It was very inexpensive and casual and we didn’t have to worry about seating or accessibility because all of the paths were wide and paved. We also had ample free parking and a lovely shaded pavilion for the reception. As an added bonus, my husband now gets to drive past “The Marry Place” everyday on his way to and from work :)

    7. Not So NewReader*

      I had a small wedding with a modest reception. So to me, it was important that people talk with each other. But, HOW?

      And that is how I came to picking out the restaurant I used. It was a unique place. It was an old mill with a lot of the old components still in place. Outside was a pretty river. The interior and exterior served as a conversation starter. People who did not know each other started commenting on what they were seeing around them. By the time I got there, they were wandering around and chatting, no one sat down right away. Yeah, the place was really interesting.

      Since it was a small business in a rural area the owners were very interested in the needs of the group and very accommodating. I was very pleased with everything.

    8. KR*

      Make sure you have a good space to get ready for the wedding/run off and re-apply makeup/ect. When my cousin got married the bridesmaids all got fully ready before we got to the venue, Cousin’s hair and makeup was done but she still needed to put her dress on and do the final touches. We got to the venue and discovered they didn’t have a separate room for the bride to get ready and only had a large bathroom. We all pile in there and 15 minutes before the wedding the venue coordinator comes in, looks at all the bags we have with various wedding things/purses/ect, and says we need to move them right now because the venue rental didn’t include the bathroom & they couldn’t stay in there. I asked if we could get the 20min ceremony done with on time and then put everything away between the ceremony and the reception, but that was apparently Not Okay. We then had to hide the bride so the groomsmen could come in and throw everything back in one of our cars as quickly as possible.

    9. Not A Manager*

      You can choose a venue that already has a kosher kitchen. Alternatively, some caterers bring their own ovens, etc. to a venue anyway, and I imagine that kosher caterers would be more used to doing that. I would absolutely prioritize finding a venue where I did not have to pay to kasher the kitchen.

      My other advice is to choose a venue/caterer that doesn’t require you to buy a liquor package through them. You will save thousands of dollars if you’re able to purchase your liquor directly and have it delivered.

    10. Fikly*

      My sister got married a few years ago, and the venue was her splurge. Jewish wedding complete with Chuppah, but not kosher food. I’m not observant enough to comment on what needs to be done to make a venue kosher for the food, but her food was Celiac gluten friendly, as she has Celiac, so everything was prepared off site and then kept/served in safe dishes brought by the Celiac-safe caterer. Would that work?

      If your wedding will be during a time of year where outside is a consideration, what worked well for her was that the venue had an outdoor space, but the ceremony and reception were both indoors. We used the outdoor space for cocktails/appetizers after the ceremony, while they reorganized the space from ceremony to tables for reception. If the weather had been bad, push comes to shove they had indoor space they could have held us in (roughly 100 people) while they changed the main space. It was really nice to have the outdoor break, but then be able to go back inside.

      And +1000 to the accessibility notes.

      Also, if there are going to be a lot of out of town guests, look at the cost of local hotels, and ease of transportation to the area. Her venue did not have cheap hotels nearby, so we did a mass booking at a hotel about a 30 minute drive away, and chartered a bus, but did not realize ahead of time that the same day there was a massive air show, and the bus got bogged down in traffic. There was a happy ending, but check what else is going on in the area!

    11. Red Reader the Adulting Fairy*

      If you’ve already chosen a caterer, check with them for suggestions as to how it works on their end – you don’t want to fall in love with a venue and caterer that aren’t compatible!

    12. Ann O.*

      Food was A Very Big Deal at my kosher wedding, so we ended up renting the local Hillel. That way we already had a kosher kitchen. I can’t remember exactly how it worked because our caterer had never done a kosher wedding before (but was great!). We would have rented a synagogue, but we were in a place with a small Jewish community so there was only one synagogue and it was already booked.

      We looked at a few non-Jewish wedding venues, and it was just going to be a nightmare to have a kosher caterer in any of them. The ones with on-site kitchens also had on-site caterers as part of their package and were hostile to third party vendors. The ones without on-site kitchens were going to be too much of a challenge to make work because we had complicated food (this was for cultural reasons due to my husband’s non-Ashkenazi wedding traditions). I think if we’d had a simpler wedding meal, we could have gone that route.

      We ended up putting pretty much our whole budget into food and band and I guess not surprisingly, that matches my values as a guest. I think any space can be made pretty enough with some simple, inexpensive decor but food cannot be faked. And what else is there to do at a wedding really but eat, talk, and dance?

    13. NoLongerYoung*

      Family/the elderly. I held my wedding specifically in a town (actually, state) of my family and childhood, specifically so that my elderly grandmother could attend, and during the day so that the elderly relatives could all drive and “get home before dark.” (there’s a long distance drive for almost everything there, no mass transit). I held a separate small dinner afterwards in my actual state of residence now for my friends.

      I was so grateful I did. Within 10 years, the majority of the friends I would have thought would still be my friends (not all, just… many) have drifted away. But each and every one of the dearest relatives over 80 was gone, basically. It gave them great joy, and me great joy. It was about those that had the longest connection to my life, supporting me and being there for me. My closest friends did fly in for it. (It is not a state that is known for destination weddings…unless you couple it with an agricultural tour).

      Much like buying a car that has options you don’t really need…. just know your values, what is important, and only put your money where it really matters. For me, that was in making sure those I loved the most and longest, were there.

    14. Tomacco*

      Mazel tov!

      My wife is Jewish, I am not. Nobody on her side eats strictly kosher, but they don’t mix meat with dairy and don’t eat pork. We both knew we wanted something low-key, but that we also wanted to invite our (large) extended families and friends. We didn’t want to have to do much planning. We wanted a venue that was accessible. We wanted it to be fun, kid-friendly and with a focus on family and friends.

      In the end, it was the food that inspired us: we ended up having a wedding-brunch at a fun, quirky restaurant in our city that does an amazing Jewish kosher-style brunch with live klezmer music. They allowed us to bring trays of sushi to add to the buffet to represent my side of things. The musicians mixed up the klezmer with folk/celtic tunes. We had a short but thoughtful ceremony to start things off officiated by a friend, the restaurant served mimosas, and then people got up and stuffed themselves at the buffet. It was a cash bar for those who wanted a drink, we didn’t have any decorations (not needed!), people seated themselves wherever they wanted, and there was no wedding cake because the buffet came with an enormous assortment of desserts and fruits and nuts etc. Then we had our immediate families back to our place to chill and chat and get to know each other (some family members live far away). We ordered in pizzas for dinner and it was all fantastic.

  72. Anon Here*

    The dog and I are settling into the new apartment. He’s really happy about having more space to run around and play. I appreciate this place so much. It’s just what I was hoping to find.

    And it might snow today!

    This feels like a turning point. Like things are starting to get better again. I’m really focused on the future and on making more good things happen. I feel like this is the beginning of better times to come.

    1. Budgie*

      I certainly hope so! I’m waiting on some better times myself. Sometimes those little things help you the most. There’s nothing like curling up with your dog on a snowy day.

  73. I'm Going To London!*

    London trip is 10 days away. Anxious and excited!
    Plan packing finished. Knitting project for the plane started.
    Have a message in to a car service for the airport.
    Still a little concerned on the shoe front. I am snowed in right now and have been wearing Uggs and hiking boots.
    Cannot imagine being in 40 degree weather after weeks of wool long underwear.
    Found the perfect adventure for me Saturday Dec. 14. The House of Illustration Fair: Winter 2019
    Has anyone been? Is this something we should plan on staying at all day?
    Will the Mr. need a tie?

    1. StellaBella*

      Check out Londonist (dot) com for things to do and see and what is going on. Will you be there for election day on the 19th? The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has cool stuff happening too (wwt dot org dot uk) including some cool huskies for sleighs (not sure if you are a dog person but this would be cool I think). The site VisitLondon dot com has some great lists too and events. For the event you list – never been but looking at the website people are dressed very casually it seems in the photos. If you plan to go to a nice dinner a tie and a nice outfit for both is always good. But also ensure you have reservations. Other things I have done in London include the London Eye, Brick Lane Market, river tours, the Tower Tour, castle tours, walking tours, and nighttime tours. the London Pass is a great deal to get around, too. For shoes, if you plan to walk several hours a day wear something comfortable. Check the weather forecast the day before you go on BBC or other sites to see if you will need different clothes or shoes. Have fun!

    2. PX*

      Took a look at the website of the Illustration Fair, personally I dont think this would be something to stay at all day, but depends on how interested you are! I would probably budget a few hours for it.

      Dont think the Mr. needs a tie unless you are planning on…having meetings with him? Literally cant think of anything outside of work that would require a tie here.

      1. I'm Going to London!*

        no meetings with Mr. He is on his own while I am at meetings then from the 11th to 21st for the most part we are one holiday. Bookstore, libraries, the Tate, the British Museum. We have tickets to Steel Eye Span and a day trip to Oxford to the Bodleian.

        Love dogs- will look for dog related stuff.

        1. Cambridge local*

          Ooh, if you have any extra time in Oxford, I recommend the Pitt Rivers museum – so many interesting artefacts! (And if you’re not comfortable with the shrunken heads, it’s easy to avoid accidentally stumbling upon them because they’re usually surrounded by a small crowd of people)

    3. Osmoglossum*

      Re knitting project. Have you confirmed with your airline(s) that you can take knitting needles on the flights? In 2016 I traveled to South America and Europe and I was not allowed to take knitting needles on board the planes (three different airlines). Fortunately I had checked prior to flying because if I had had my Addi Turbos confiscated I would have had a meltdown.

      Have a great trip!!!

      1. I'm Going to London!*

        OMG! I’ve taken my knitting with me to Italy, Tokyo, Thailand, and Singapore. oy. just picked up some new Addi Turbos. I wonder who I ask?

        1. I'm Going to London*

          ok” On domestic flights in the US, knitting needles and crochet hooks are permitted by the TSA in carry-on luggage. The TSA suggests that you carry wooden or plastic needles over metal. Circular knitting needles are preferred over straight. Each country is different, though. If you are travelling internationally be sure to check the guidelines of your airline and security agencies abroad. You may be allowed to fly into a country with knitting needles in your carry-on but be required to check them on your return flight.”

          I will swap out the Addi Turbos for small wooden double pointed. I am making a hat or wrist warmers. if they are taken I can pick up some in a shop in London, yes?
          Recommendations for a London or Cambridge yarn shop are welcome.

  74. Bibliovore*

    Big win on the work/life balance. Cleaned out and gave away clothes that I never wear but in good condition. Repaired all the sweaters that I loved the best with felt patched. Patched the down jacket sprouting feathers. Moved the summer clothes to the basement storage.
    Watched The Crown while cleaning up the second bedroom.
    Had the cousins over for a visit yesterday.
    Took care of the shopping.
    Taking a young cousin to the yarn store this morning.
    There will be the reading of a book- new Margaret Atwood or the new Anne Patchett.
    No work except for a few minutes tonight reviewing the project plan for the week.

      1. Bibliovore*

        We spent way too long at the yarn store. No reading today. Feel accomplished and ready for the week.

  75. Rebecca*

    Greetings from an icy and slushy and just plain grumpy Central PA. So glad I’m safe and sound inside, I would not want to be traveling today. Safe travels to anyone on the roads today in the Northeast.

    I had a great Thanksgiving holiday, and thanks to my son in law and his metal detector, we found the septic tank, dug it up, and our local honey dipper pumped it out, and just in time. Mom couldn’t remember when it was last done, and it’s getting cold here, and my fear was it would fill up and the toilets would stop working during sub zero weather when the ground is frozen. It was full nearly to the top, only about 6-8″ to go. Before I shoveled the dirt back, I tied a nylon cord to the lid handle, and left it above the dirt. Unfortunately, it’s located below a brick walkway, so that part won’t be put back until Spring, but I’m going to measure the distance from the foundation to the handle, and document it all by putting a little diagram inside the breaker box door. Dirt is heavy :) Wheelbarrows full of dirt are heavy :) but it’s done now and Yay!!

    I’m going to put up a Christmas tree later today, after supper, and have errands to run tomorrow. One of them is to the post office in the larger town next door. I flagged down a person delivering mail to all the houses around us (Mom is a hold out with a PO box, but we can’t get packages, so frustrating) and she told me which post office she picks mail up for delivery. Woot!! One problem solved, now to find out what the actual USPS address is here. Mom has refused for years to update the address, because she is right about all things, and this has always been Main Street, I don’t care what the post office says, I’m not changing my address, it’s been this way for over 50 years, blah blah blah. I’m going to find out what the shipping address is here, and I’m going to get packages. No more having things shipped to work or a friend’s house because I can’t put the address here with a PO box when I try to order things. The hilarious thing is, she complains about not being able to get packages here at the house! Well, if you’d agree to CHANGE and not be stuck in 1962, it might help.

    And I went to a fitness class. I’m so glad this is not on video. I wasn’t sure I’d get through, I couldn’t do some of the things, and as for the rest, I’m pretty sure I looked like an elderly seal flailing about, but I didn’t quit. And I’m going back. I’m going to check with my health insurance to see if there are any rebates or dollars off insurance for doing this, although at my age, they might think it’s a risk factor !!! LOLOLOL!! Anyway, it was great, someone brought their therapy dogs, and one was quite big, and at one point I wondered if she might need to come over with a rescue water bottle or something. The staff and other members are very welcoming and inclusive, so I feel good about going back.

    Hope everyone is doing well! I can’t believe it’s December!

    1. Business Librarian*

      Congratulations on your great holiday and missing big trouble by 6 inches! We just had our tank pumped out and after living here since the ’90’s, we had them install a ground-level lid. It’s dark green very heavy-duty plastic, and underneath is a plastic sleeve that leads to the opening of the tank. I was expecting it to be metal but it’s really sturdy and since all it has to do is keep the surrounding soil from collapsing it, I’m sure it will be fine. No more digging it out every time! From your mention of the walkway, I’m not sure you could have one of these, but it’s really aggravating that we’ve been digging it up every 4 years or so and we didn’t need to do it!

      I grew up in the middle of nowhere so I’m familiar with receiving a new address suddenly after decades. You can tell your mom (not that it will do any good) that we all survived the ordeal and went on to live glorious lives with the new label for the old house. It didn’t hurt a bit! Hope all continues to be as good as can be expected, and thanks for keeping us updated. You’re the reason I never miss the weekend open thread.

      1. Yeah*

        Have a friend who went from Rural route # to actual house number and street. In 1965 they changed our house number from 3 to 5 numbers.

    2. Asenath*

      I expect this is one of these things that vary by location, but in my area, it’s not actually the post office that knows your official street address, it’s the local town council (or equivalent for any incorporated area, even a tiny one). I discovered this when I lived in the sort of small town that didn’t bother much with street names on signs and house numbers – people said things like ‘It’s at the far end of Sesame Street (not the real name; a nickname given because a lot of families there had young children); there’s a kind of lane going off to the left. I think it’s the second or third house, it’s brown, anyway”. People like the ones who connected phone lines (this was a while back) didn’t like these kinds of instructions. I found out that every single house had something called a civic number – a number or street name – on the plans drawn up by the town council. Of course, the phone installer didn’t know the civic number either, but it was on the form, and he kept asking around until he found me.

      1. KR*

        Yes – there’s a chance the house may not even have a formal address associated with the plot. Some of our newer work sites we actually need to file the petition for the county to assign us an address. I just assumed the plot had it’s own address. So interesting

    3. Pam*

      Yay! Due to my disability, I tend to stay off to one side during exercise classes- usually where there’s something to grab on to like the spinning bikes. I’m hoping to get back soon, now that this final surgery has healed.

    4. Three Pines Visitor*

      Hi, Rebecca! I’m another one who looks forward to your updates, having had a difficult mother w ith many of the same, um, personality aspects, and also because you are such a good writer (this is the opinion of a professional, btw).

      Welcome to the wonderful world of fitness over 50! I’m going to a class three times a week at a neighborhood gym (membership paid for through my Medicare Supplement Insurance, class itself $30/month) and I adore it. As for being glad it’s not on video, I’ve found it helpful to keep in mind the yoga admonition: “Eyes on your own mat. The only performance you ought to be watching is your own.”

    5. WoodswomanWrites*

      I always look forward to your updates, and this one is full of good news which is so good to hear. Congrats on all the things you are accomplishing, both for your mother and yourself.

    6. NoLongerYoung*

      wonderful update. Wanted to add a word about the house address and not having a PO Box. In my home (rural) state, they make every house have a street address. It is about the ambulances and emergency services being able to find you. When my mom had to have an ambulance (13 miles to town, so a long round trip to come out, get her, and get back), time was precious. I was grateful.

      So… sometimes you have to. It’s no longer a world where everyone knew you and where you live.

      Great news on the exercise class. I commend you. Today was my fifth month anniversary of my new exercise routine. Slow but I keep coming back… you will be so pleased. (and it’s nice to make new friends, too).

      1. Anono-me*

        This. The local ambulance crew knows where you live. The air ambulance crew flying from the nearest big city with the really good Trama Center does not. E911 addresses are mostly for out of town First Responders that need to use GPS.

        It may be helpful to tape your e911 address next to any landlines in the house. Also I believe VoIP and cell numbers can be registered to a physical address. ( I think cell number registration is most critical for high-rise residence, is GPS can have trouble determining the floor.)

        I hope your new address is only necessary for delivery of wonderful and convenient parcels.

  76. Countess Boochie Flagrante*

    Anyone have recommendations for a soup that can sub for tomato in the classic tomato soup/grilled cheese pairing? I fondly remember this meal from childhood, but my tomato sensitivity has gotten worse as an adult and the soup is now a no-go for me. So, similar flavor profile, also very creamy, ideally some kind of vegetable content?

    1. Not A Manager*

      Cream-of-sweet-orange-vegetable. Butternut squash, acorn squash, sweet potato, carrot. I would look for recipes that use the sweet orange vegetable AND some white potato as well, so the flavor is more muted.

      1. Not A Manager*

        If I were just experimenting with this myself, I would start with a ratio of 2:2:1 orange vegetable:russet potato:some kind of onion. So, 1 cup diced squash, 1 cup diced potato, 1/2 cup shallot or leek or onion.

        Saute the onion thing (optional: add some diced celery too) in some light oil until soft. (Optional: Add a splash of dry white wine, and simmer until the wine is almost evaporated.) Season with salt and pepper, nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Add the squash and potato, cover with low-sodium chicken broth (optional: toss in a bay leaf), and simmer until vegetables are very soft.

        Puree in a standing blender until very smooth. Return to saucepan and add some dairy – half-and-half, or whatever kind of milk you like. If it tastes bland, instead of the half-and-half try some sour cream or Greek yogurt. Correct seasonings, and add some sherry or some brandy if you like for flavor.

        Serve with finely chopped chives or tarragon, and a spoonful of sour cream.

      2. Millie*

        I make a pumpkin sausage kale soup. 4cup carton of chicken broth, can of pumpkin, 1lb sausage, some frozen kale, salt pepper garlic Italian seasoning

    2. Ask a Manager* Post author

      I would consider mushroom soup. A thing about tomato soup is that it has a tang that pairs well with the creaminess of the grilled cheese, and I think you can give mushroom soup that tang if you use something like sherry vinegar in it.

    3. Bluebell*

      There’s lots of good butternut squash recipes out there. Some add a bit of green apple for tang. Maybe that would work?

    4. Lives in a shoe*

      Roasted red pepper soup is delicious and has that nice tang that pairs well with creamy cheese.

      1. WellRed*

        This was going to be my recommendation. Just be careful, many have tomato. If anyone has a recipe or brand, I’d love a suggestion.

        1. I heart Paul Buchman*

          Just roast some red peppers, a half head of garlic, a hot chilli if you like. When we’ll roasted, peel. Put on the stovetop with stock to cover, season well then purée. Add cream to serve. I have used coconut cream.

    5. WG*

      Panera has an autumn squash soup with butternut squash and pumpkin. I’m able to find it in a local grocery store to heat up at home. I also can’t do tomato soup anymore and like this as an alternative.

    6. Pam*

      Not really vegetable content, but I love New England Clam Chowder- the white kind- with toast or grilled cheese.

  77. The Meow*

    I was trying to arrange lunch a friend. She didn’t reply to my suggested date. After a week of silence she finally texted back saying she is avai

    1. Ramona Q*

      Unless there’s some missing context, I’d not worry about this. The holidays are busy and stressful.

  78. Marguerite*

    I’ve found myself in situations where a guy runs hot and cold. He plays mind games and is seemingly toxic. When you truly meet your match, they won’t play these games, right? In healthy relationships and situations they don’t act this way?

    1. Not So NewReader*

      Right.
      Adding, when people first meet they are usually on their best behavior. With that in mind, it’s easy to imagine this will get worse.
      Please keep yourself safe.
      And please google around to find the classic traits of an abuser.

    2. Observer*

      “doesn’t play mind games” does not mean “met your match” just “MAYBE met your match”

      “plays mind games” DEFINITELY means “Not your match!” also “No loss since not a decent person.”

      Please run as fast as you can.

    3. Lilysparrow*

      A guy who runs hot and cold, is toxic, and plays mind games is only your match if you really like having mind games played on you and absorbing toxicity. This is not a temporary phase that goes away if you unlock a certain level in the game.

      What you get at the beginning is what you will get even more of down the line. If you don’t like the way things are, don’t stick around for more of the same.

    4. Clever Name*

      You are exactly right! With my boyfriend (we live together and he is planning to propose) I never once second guessed his feelings. Since our second date, I’ve known he is crazy about me. After our third date, he texted me that he intended to continue to date me for as long as I would allow him to. He’s never been hot and cold. He’s never blown me off. He would always take my calls, even when he was out with the guys.

      I did briefly date a guy who was hot and cold. It didn’t last. A man who wants to be with you won’t leave you guessing.

  79. Aurion*

    So some routine-ish bloodwork came back and I am rather deficient in iron. I’m rather surprised since I eat a lot of red meat and I don’t have heavy periods, but it is what it is. I’m not anemic (yet), but my iron stores are depleted and doc gave me a “prescription” of high levels of iron supplements and orange juice for three months.

    Turns out latent iron deficiency/iron deficiency without anemia can have a lot of symptoms like the anemic version, which actually explains a lot of the exhaustion and brain fog I’d been having lately. Anyone have any anecdotes of their own version of latent iron deficiency?

    1. Wicked Witch of the West*

      when taking the iron supplement, don’t be surprised or worried if your bowel movements turn dark green, almost black. Many years ago I was prescribed iron, and the stools freaked me right out.

    2. Koala dreams*

      I took some iron pills for a while and they are a bit weird. However for me the worst was to not drink any coffee or tea when eating food or the iron pills. I love tea, and I like to drink it with food, not wait one hour and then drink my tea.

    3. Rooty*

      Glad you’re taking supplements! Yes, I always take mine with some kind of acid, as it helps absorbtion, and I felt better in just a couple of weeks…don’t stop taking the supplements, though, until you get blood work confirming you can. Best wishes!

    4. NewNameTemporarily*

      And do not take with calcium. (they apparently reduce the effectiveness).
      And… I have super duty iron, so I have to take with a gentle softener or I am very sorry. Just saying.

  80. Elizabeth West*

    The wind is howling so much I can hear it here in the basement. Hope everyone is warm and cozy (or cool, if you’re somewhere hot). I’m about to put my sheets in the dryer and have a cup of cocoa.

    I bought some new pillows yesterday and slept so much better last night, I can’t even. They’re the Beautyrest cooling kind (Walmart) with some sort of stuff in the knit covering, and they really, actually feel cooler. That’s important since I sleep on a satin pillowcase to protect my hair. (Satin is hot. I can’t afford silk pillowcases right now.) I knew it was time for new pillows when I started getting headaches, plus I kept waking up all the time.

    1. Windchime*

      I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how your move went. I assume that you were able to sell your house? Best of luck on the job search!

      1. Elizabeth West*

        I did sell it, and the buyer didn’t ask for me to fix anything. I didn’t get as much as I’d hoped for it because it was a cash sale, but oh well. It went to someone who liked it (grandparents buying it for a grandson who is just starting out, I think) so I don’t think they’ll tear it down or anything. He also bought some of the furniture and got all the appliances (grrr, a brand new washer). I did not have to worry about moving any of that. I left a bunch of house-related stuff for him like cleaning supplies, a rake, etc.

    2. Sometimes Always Never*

      Ooh, there are some mulberry silk pillowcases on Amazon that aren’t terribly expensive. A recommendation for a cooling pillow is always appreciated.

      Also, I was thinking of you for recommending Derek. I enjoyed it, there were some really sweet moments! I wasn’t so fond of Kevin; I’m not a prude, but I didn’t find his “humor” terribly entertaining. So, overall, thanks for the recommendation. I hope you get a chance to watch After Life — and let me/us know if you like it.

      1. Elizabeth West*

        Kevin is horrible but he gets less horrible when you get to know him later–I mean, he’s still very off-putting, but you find out stuff about him that kind of explains why he’s the way he is.

    3. MechanicalPencil*

      I’m so glad I’m not the only one who feels hot with the satin pillowcases. It’s done wonders for me hair, but man this summer was rough

  81. Jaid*

    I just added Auschwitz Memorial to my Twitter feed and discovered that Amazon was selling Christmas ornaments. mousepads, etc with pictures of Nazi death camps/trains. It seems to be gone now.

    I can’t even.

    1. General von Klinkerhoffen*

      There are sites which auto create merchandise from popular licence-free images. As soon as a human sees them,
      they’re withdrawn. There have been other startling examples but I’ve not heard of any quite so distasteful.

      Just in case you had completely given up on humans.

    2. Tmarie*

      They were pushing to get to 750,000 followers. I was happy to recommend them to my 100 followers. One thing about the feed, it is endlessly sad, and I never know whether “Liking” them is ok. So typically I just re-tweet.

    1. Jaid*

      I’m not gonna spend whatever to watch the show, but I will melt like butter whenever I see a picture/gif/video.

      Buttah.

    2. Anonymous Educator*

      I can’t believe they still don’t have a proper Baby Yoda official plush. “We were afraid there’d be leaks” is a sad excuse not to have that official merch ready to go when the Mandalorian debuted. People want to give their money!

    3. KR*

      I haven’t seen the relevant show/movie and the memes are kind of puzzling. I don’t think it’s as cute as everyone else does evidently but I’m not sure if that would change if I saw the actual movie. I like star wars but I’m not a super fan by any means (have trouble keeping the timeline and characters straight, ect)

  82. MechanicalPencil*

    Probably a bit late to the party, but does anyone have easy/simple/what have you gluten free recipes that you love? Bonus points if the recipe does not make a huge amount. Cooking for one and sometimes two just means most recipes turn into all week leftover affairs.

    1. Not enough coffee*

      We thought one of my kids had a gluten intolerance for a while. We switched most of our pasta based dishes to rice.

      We went heavy on risottos. Also, corn chips/corn tortillas for tacos. Lots of popcorn, too. Turns out she didn’t have the intolerance but after a 3 month period developed a love for salad!

    2. Queer Earthling*

      My spouse (no longer gluten intolerant, long story, don’t ask) still really likes my oatmeal cakes, though you have to make sure your oatmeal is fully gluten free.

      Oatcakes (makes 2)

      1 1/2c oatmeal
      1/8t salt
      1/4t baking soda
      1T melted butter
      1/2c hot water

      Mix all together until it forms a dough (I usually use my hands). Separate into two balls. Flatten (they should be about an inch or so thick). Fry until golden brown. Cut into quarters. I usually serve with butter and brown sugar on top (and sometimes I put raisins in the dough) but you do what you feel.

  83. Gaia*

    I know it’s very late but I wanted to check in and say I’m doing okay. It’s been a rough week visiting the family but better than it would have been unaided. More details next week when I’ve tested.

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